COL.  HKNRY  ().  KENT. 

Colonel  ijth  New  Hampshire  Infantry 


HISTORY 


SEVENTEENTH    REGIMENT, 

NEW  HAMPSHIRE  VOLUNTEER  INFANTRY. 
1862-1863. 


BY  LIEUT.  CHARLES  N.  KENT. 

M 


"  Our  country  is  a  whole 

Of  which  we  all  are  parts,  nor  should  a  citizen 
Regard  his  interests  as  distinct  from  hers ; 
No  hopes  or  fears  should  touch  his  patriot  soul 
But  what  affect  her  honot  or  her  shame." 


PUBLISHED  BY  ORDER  OF  THE 

SEVENTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE  VETERAN  ASSOCIATION. 

CONCORD,  N.  H. 

1898. 


PRINTED    BY 

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Seventeenth  1Hew  Ibampebire  flnfantrp, 

WHO    GAVE    THEIR    LIVES    FOR    THE    DEFENCE    OF    THEIR 
COUNTRY,      AND     TO     PERPETUATE     WHOSE     MEM 
ORY    THE     FOLLOWING    PAGES    HAVE    BEEN 
WRITTEN,     THIS    VOLUME    IS    HUM 
BLY      DEDICATED 

BY    THE    AUTHOR. 


f* 

* 


HON.  WILLIAM  E.  CHANDLER. 


INTRODUCTION. 


The  history  of  the  Seventeenth  Regiment  of  New  Hampshire 
Volunteers  in  the  War  of  1862,  waged  to  maintain  the  union  of 
the  United  States,  has  been  duly  written  by  competent  hands 
and  is  now  presented  to  the  public  in  this  volume. 

It  is  true  that  circumstances  prevented  the  regiment,  as  a 
formal  military  body  under  Colonel  Henry  O.  Kent,  its  organizer 
and  commander,  from  leaving  the  state  and  entering  the  great 
conflict  of  arms. 

But  the  actual  service  and  proven  valor  of  the  volunteers  for 
the  Seventeenth  Regiment  performed  in  other  organizations  on 
many  of  the  famous  battlefields  of  the  war,  and  the  ardent  aspir 
ations,  untiring  labors,  and  patriotic  patience  of  Colonel  Kent 
could  not  be  justly  left  without  commemoration,  by  a  faithful 
special  narration,  to  take  its  place  in  the  line  of  those  histories 
of  New  Hampshire's  military  organizations  which  are  now  ap 
proaching  completion.  The  briefest  possible  statement  concern 
ing  the  Seventeenth  Regiment  may  lead  those  who  glance  at  this 
introduction  to  look  at  the  whole  narrative. 

When  President  Lincoln  on  August  4,  1862,  called  for  300,- 
ooo  additional  volunteers,  New  Hampshire's  quota  required 
three  regiments,  and  it  was  determined,  as  was  then  thought, 
wisely,  to  raise  one  regiment  in  each  of  the  three  congressional 
districts.  Field  officers  were  accordingly  appointed,  HENRY  O. 
KENT  of  Lancaster  being  selected  to  aid  in  raising  the  Seven 
teenth  within  the  Third  District  and  to  be  its  commander,  and 
he  was  commissioned  as  colonel  of  the  regiment  on  October  23, 
1862. 

Naturally  enough,  as  soon  appeared,  volunteering  proceeded 
unequally  in  the  three  districts  and  when  it  came  to  be  under 
stood  by  the  state  authorities  that  haste  was  desired  by  the 
president,  it  was  decided  to  disregard  the  original  plan  and  to 


INTRODUCTION. 

complete  the  Fifteenth  and  Sixteenth  Regiments  by  transferring 
to  them  men  and  companies  from  the  Third  District,  and  these 
two  regiments  left  the  state,  the  Fifteenth,  November  13,  and 
the  Sixteenth,  November  23,  1862,  carrying  with  them  the  larger 
portion  of  the  volunteers  from  the  Third  District,  notably  six 
companies  from  Bath,  Canaan,  Fitzwilliam,  Lebanon,  Plymouth, 
and  Swanzey,  and  their  vicinities. 

This  radical  change  of  plan  was  a  grievous  disappointment 
to  Colonel  Kent  and  to  the  people  of  the  Third  District,  but  it 
was  by  no  means  intended  to  be  a  permanent  blow  and  as  it 
finally  proved  to  be  the  destruction  of  the  Seventeenth  Regi 
ment  as  an  organization.  Every  possible  effort  was  therefore 
made  to  complete  it  by  securing  volunteers  from  all  parts  of  the 
state.  The  regiment  with  its  depleted  numbers  went  into  camp 
at  Concord  on  November  19,  1862,  and  remained  there  until 
April  16,  1863,  while  untiring  exertions  were  made  to  fill  its 
ranks.  But  events,  military  and  political,  now  well  known  and 
not  necessary  to  be  here  recited,  had  happened  which  had  made 
the  raising  of  more  troops  by  volunteering  exceedingly  difficult 
and  at  last  impossible  ;  although  one  company  and  part  of 
another,  making  125  men,  were  added  to  the  regiment  from  the 
two  other  districts  towards  the  success  of  whose  regiments  the 
Third  District  had  contributed  so  much,  bringing  the  total 
number  of  volunteers  whose  history  connects  itself  with  the 
Seventeenth  up  to  916— more  than  the  number  required  to 
authorize  the  mustering  by  the  United  States  of  a  colonel. 
Therefore,  at  last  the  earnest  struggle  to  actually  fill  up  the 
the  regiment,  secure  the  mustering  of  its  colonel  by  the  United 
States,  and  to  send  it  to  the  front  was  reluctantly  abandoned  ; 
and  on  the  date  last  named  Colonel  Kent  for  the  last  time 
paraded  his  command,  transferred  its  volunteers  to  the  Second 
New  Hampshire  Regiment  then  at  Concord  to  receive  them, 
and  the  Seventeenth  Regiment  no  longer  existed  as  a  formal 
organization. 

The  facts  thus  concisely  stated  are  graphically  narrated  in  a 
remarkable  paper  prepared  by  direction  of  Governor  Nathaniel 
S.  Berry  and  signed  by  him  on  the  i6th  day  of  February,  1892, 
when  he  was  ninety-five  years  of  age,  which  was  the  foundation 


IN  TROD  UC  77  ON.  7 

of  the  report  made  on  April  yth,  1892,  from  the  military  com 
mittee  by  Senator  Reclfield  Proctor,  which  caused  the  passage 
of  the  special  act  of  congress  of  July  21,  1892,  providing  for 
the  formal  recognition  of  Colonel  Kent  as  the  colonel  of  the 
regiment. 

In  view  of  these  facts  so  authenticated,  it  will  be  universally 
agreed  by  the  people  of  New  Hampshire  that  his  excellency, 
Governor  Ramsdell,  acted  justly  and  wisely  in  approving  under 
the  statute  of  the  state  giving  to  him  due  authority,  the  publica 
tion  as  a  distinct  volume  of  the  history  of  the  Seventeenth 
Regiment.  The  interesting  struggle  not  to  allow  the  regiment 
to  be  given  up  as  one  of  New  Hampshire's  volunteer  organiza 
tions,  carried  on  when  the  cause  of  the  Union  was  growing 
precarious,  when  northern  hearts  were  failing  from  fear,  and 
when  the  dreaded  forcible  draft  was  approaching,  could  not 
properly  be  omitted  as  a  formal  history  in  the  archives  of  the 
state ; — even  if  its  earnest  volunteers  had  been  discharged  and 
had  never  gone  to  the  front. 

"  They  also  serve  who  only  stand  and  wait."  In  the  just  nar 
ratives  of  the  achievements  of  armies  and  navies  those  who 
strove  to  reach  the  forefront  of  battle  but  through  circumstances 
beyond  their  control  did  not  actually  receive  the  baptism  of  fire 
are  as  much  entitled  to  have  their  zeal  and  their  merits  formally 
recorded  as  are  those  who  were  the  most  conspicuous  heroes 
under  the  storm  of  shot  and  shell.  The  same  qualities  which 
prevail  in  those  who  do  not  happen  to  come  under  fire  make  up 
the  mettle  and  inspire  the  irresistible  rush  of  the  warriors  whose 
actual  combats  secure  fame  to  the  army  and  navy,  or  give  vic 
tory  to  the  nation  for  which  all  have  offered  to  suffer  and  die  if 
need  thus  be. 

But  the  record  of  the  Seventeenth  Regiment  is  not  one  of 
good  will  without  brave  deeds.  The  men  who  enlisted  for  that 
organization  went  to  the  war  under  other  commands  and  their 
good  service  reflects  credit  upon  the  original  organization  and 
the  final  organizations  with  which  they  were  connected.  In  this 
volume  told  by  faithful  eye  witnesses  may  be  found  the  stories 
which  show  how  they  conducted  themselves  as  members  of  the 
Fifteenth  and  Sixteenth  Regiments  and  in  the  ranks  of  the 


8  INTKOD  UC  770  A". 

famous  Second  Regiment  of  New  Hampshire  Volunteers.  No 
higher  encomium  could  be  pronounced  upon  new  recruits  than 
that  contained  in  the  General  Order,  No.  14,  of  September  22, 
1863,  issued  by  Col.  E.  L.  Bailey  of  the  Second  Regiment  to  the 
"  Soldiers  of  the  Seventeen  New  Hampshire  Volunteers "  on 
their  discharge  from  service  which  in  the  face  of  the  whole 
army  declared  to  them  that  in  their  "  occupancy  of  the  most  ex 
posed  positions  during  that  terrible  contest  "  [Gettysburg]  they 
"  stood  firmly  shoulder  to  shoulder  with  the  familiars  of  fifteen 
battles  fighting  as  valiantly." 

Thus  it  appears  that  like  most  of  New  Hampshire's  33,000 
soldiers  whose  labors,  sufferings,  perils  or  deaths,  through  the 
greatest  war  of  modern  times,  helped  to  preserve  the  national 
union  and  to  free  a  race  from  chattel  slavery,  the  men  of 
the  Seventeenth  New  Hampshire  Regiment  proved  themselves 
worthy  of  their  birthright  as  American  citizens  and  earned  for 
themselves  the  tender  remembrance  and  eternal  gratitude  of 
their  fellow  countrymen  and  of  their  descendants  to  the  latest 


My  personal  relations  to  Col.  Henry  O.  Kent,  never  broken 
or  strained  by  any  vicissitudes  of  politics,  have  led  me  to  write 
this  introduction  to  the  history  of  the  regiment  of  which  he  was 
the  principal  promoter,  and  of  which  he  was  the  actual  com 
mander,  appointed  by  Governor  Berry,  recognized  by  the  na 
tional  government,  and  in  due  time,  to  resolve  a  doubt,  declared 
to  have  been  its  colonel  in  the  military  service  of  the  United 
States,  by  a  special  act  of  congress  which  it  was  impossible  to 
refuse  to  pass  after  an  examination  of  the  statement  of  Governor 
Berry,  before  mentioned. 

In  the  legislature  of  1862  Mr.  Kent  and  I  became  exceed 
ingly  intimate.  I  witnessed  his  patriotism,  his  industry  and  his 
youthful  zeal,  as  chairman  of  the  house  committee  on  military 
affairs,  for  the  prosecution  of  the  war  for  the  Union  and  for 
every  measure  intended  to  promote  the  efficiency  of  the  New 
Hampshire  troops.  He  had  from  boyhood  tended  towards  a 
military  life,  doubtless  from  his  early  connection  with  the  noted 


INTRODUCTION,  9 

Norwich  Military  University,  and  when  upon  the  adjourn 
ment  of  the  legislature,  he  decided  to  enter  the  army  I  antici 
pated  for  him  success  and  renown ;  and  as  his  constant  friend  I 
fully  joined  in  feeling  the  disappointment  which  came  to  him 
from  the  abandonment  in  the  spring  of  1863  of  the  regimental 
organization  in  which  all  his  hopes  and  aspirations  had  cen 
tered  ;  after  which  abandonment,  however,  I  concluded  and  so 
advised  him  that  under  all  the  circumstances  he  ought  not 
further  to  pursue  his  determination  to  enter  the  military  service. 
On  the  whole  Colonel  Kent's  retrospect  of  life  may  be  with 
out  serious  regrets.  His  military  aspirations  and  efforts  were 
creditable.  His  civil  career  has  been  upright  and  honorable. 
He  has  been  self-denying  in  every  relation  of  life.  It  came  to 
my  knowledge  that  President  Cleveland  and  Secretary  Lament 
desired  to  have  him  accept  the  post  of  assistant  secretary  of 
war  but  he  made  the  sacrifice  of  declining  on  account  of  the  im 
mediate  pressure  of  imperative  family  duties  which  he  was  de 
termined  to  fulfill  in  the  completest  measure.  Of  such  self- 
denial  as  this  he  has  always  been  capable,  and  those  who  know 
his  whole  life  and  we,  his  nearest  friends,  feel  that  not  the  least 
of  the  reasons  why  he  should  be  held  in  high  regard  by  the  peo 
ple  of  New  Hampshire  is  his  unselfish  and  self-sacrificing  de 
votion  to  the  duties  which  he  undertook  in  connection  with  the 
Seventeenth  Regiment,  whose  unpretentious  history  is  now  sub 
mitted  to  the  public  judgment. 


It  remains  to  speak  briefly  of  the  responsible  author  of  this 
history  who  has  given  so  much  time  and  effort  to  its  prepara 
tion  and  publication.  CHARLES  NELSON  KENT  was  a  student 
of  Harvard  Law  school,  admitted  to  the  bar  in  Boston,  and 
later  in  1868  in  New  York  city,  where  he  went  to  lead  a  busy 
life  as  a  member  of  the  advertising  and  publishing  firm  of 
George  P.  Rowell  &  Company,  until  at  the  end  of  about  thirty 
years,  in  December,  1897,  he  retired  from  active  business. 
When  the  war  of  1861  broke  out  he  was  a  cadet  at  Norwich 
University,  but  gave  up  his  studies  in  order  to  become  first  lieu 
tenant  of  Company  C  of  the  Seventeenth  Regiment.  After  its 


10  INTRODUCTION. 

consolidation  with  the  Second  Regiment  he  returned  to  his 
university  and  graduated  in  1864,  also  becoming  an  instructor 
therein  and  the  commander  of  the  Cadet  Corps  when  it  was 
ordered  to  the  Canadian  border  in  connection  with  the  St. 
Albans  raid.  No  more  appropriate  historian  of  the  Seven 
teenth  Regiment  could  have  been  selected  that  Lieut.  Charles 
N.  Kent,  and  he  has  made  his  service  not  a  work  of  duty  alone 
but  a  labor  also  of  mingled  pleasure  and  affection. 

WILLIAM  E.   CHANDLER. 
AUGUST  ist,  1898. 


At  a  meeting  of  the  Veteran  Association  of  the  Seventeenth  New 
Hampshire  Infantry,  May  ifth,  1898,  the  following  resolution 
was  adopted : 

Resolved,  That  Lieutenant  Charles  N.  Kent  of  Company  C  be, 
and  hereby  is,  appointed  editor  to  compile  and  publish  the  Regi 
mental  History,  under  the  supervision  of  the  Executive  Committee, 
and  that  said  committee  has  full  power  to  make  all  contracts  for 
the  work,  publication  and  sale  of  said  history,  save  to  bind  the 
association  to  the  payment  of  any  indebtedness  incurred. 
A  true  copy, 

LIEUTENANT  JAMES  S.  BRACKETT, 

Secretary  ijth  N.  H.   Vet.  Ass'n. 
Lancaster,  N.  H.,  May  ijth,  1898. 


SEVENTEENTH    NEW    HAMPSHIRE   REGIMENT 
VETERAN    ASSOCIATION. 

AUGUST    25TH,    1898. 


President. 

Jared  I.  Williams,  Lancaster. 

Vice-  Presiden  ts . 

Calvin   S.  Brown,  Washington,  D.  C. 
Harvey  H.  Lucas,  Canaan,  Vt. 
George  S.  Blood,  Lowell.  Mass. 

Treasurer. 

Charles  N.  Kent,  Merrick,  N.  Y. 

Secretary. 
James  S.  Brackett,  Lancaster. 

Editor  Regimental  History. 
Charles  N.  Kent. 

Executive  and  Publication   Committee. 
Henry  O.  Kent,  Lancaster. 
William  L.  Rowell. 
Charles  E.  King. 
Frank  Smith. 
James  D.  Folsom,  St.  Johnsbury,  Vt. 

Member  of  Executive  Committee,  N.  H.   Veteran  Association. 
Charles  N.  Kent,  Merrick,  N.  Y. 


PREFACE. 


"  History,"  said  Gallatin,  at  a  meeting  of  the  Chamber  of  Com 
merce  in  New  York  city,  when  troops  were  pressing  to  the 
front  in  response  to  President  Lincoln's  first  call  for  volunteers  : 
"  History  will  make  a  faithful  record  of  our  proceedings,  and 
that  record  will  be  consulted  by  future  generations  for  encour 
agement,  for  instruction,  and  for  warning  throughout  all  time." 
The  gallant  and  accomplished  Theodore  Winthrop,  who  was 
killed  at  Great  Bethel,  with  his  last  breath  expressed  the  hope 
that  some  of  his  countrymen  "  would  keep  careful  record  of 
passing  events,  as  we  are  making  history  hand  over  hand." 
By  the  wise  and  judicious  enactment  of  New  Hampshire's 
legislature,  and  the  approval  of  His  Excellency,  the  Governor,  it 
has  been  made  possible  to  record  and  preserve  in  permanent 
form  the  history  of  each  regiment,  organized  within  the  state, 
which  did  its  part  for  the  preservation  of  the  nation,  in  the  great 
War  of  the  Rebellion. 

The  state  archives  are  replete  with  information  concerning 
those  eventful  years ;  and  the  more  recent  War  Register  com 
piled  by  Adjutant-General  Augustus  D.  Ayling,  is  a  marvellous 
record  of  painstaking  care,  intelligent  arrangement,  and  accu 
rate  statistics.  In  the  State  library  may  be  found  a  large  num 
ber  of  volumes  devoted  to  regimental  history  and  further  rec 
ords  of  the  war.  Of  this  library  it  would  be  difficult  to  express 
a  too  great  appreciation.  The  arrangement  of  books  is  admira 
ble,  the  selection  comprehensive  upon  subjects  included,  and 
the  reading-room  an  object  lesson  of  comfort  and  convenience — 
due  largely  to  the  intelligent  care  and  supervision  of  the  present 
librarian,  Maj.  Arthur  H.  Chase,  and  his  able  assistants. 

From  these  sources,  and  from  the  written  and  personal  recol 
lections  of  its  officers  and  men  has  been  derived  the  material 
used  in  the  compilation  of  this  history. 


14  PREFACE. 

The  Editor  acknowledges  with  many  thanks  his  obligations  to 
the  writers  whose  valuable  contributions  appear  in  the  pages 
which  follow,  and  records  his  further  indebtedness  for  informa 
tion  and  courtesy  to  Hon.  A.  S.  Batchellor,  state  historian,  and 
to  Maj.  William  J.  Carlton,  Forty-eighth  New  York  Volunteers, 
and  librarian  of  the  Loyal  Legion,  New  York  city. 

In  preparing  this  work  for  publication  the  following  books 
have  been  freely  consulted  :  General  Ayling's  N.  H.  Register; 
Captain  Phisterer's  Statistical  Record  ;  N.  H.  Regimental  His 
tories ;  Sanborn's  History  of  N.  H.;  \Vaite's  N.  H.  in  the  Re 
bellion  ;  Rebellion  Record ;  Official  Record,  War  of  the  Rebel 
lion  ;  Successful  Men  of  New  Hampshire  ;  History  of  Coos 
County ;  Adjutant  General's  Reports  ;  Fisk's  Beginnings  of  New 
England  ;  Buckingham's  Reminiscences  ;  Bancroft's  History  of 
U.  S.  and  McMaster's  History  of  the  People. 

As  this  is  perhaps  the  last,  certainly  nearly  the  last,  regimental 
history  of  the  great  Civil  War  to  be  issued  in  New  Hampshire,  it 
is  thought  that  the  tables  of  statistics  and  other  matter  appear 
ing  in  the  appendix,  will  be  regarded  by  the  reader  with  more 
than  ordinary  interest. 

c.   N.   K. 


TABLE    OF    CONTENTS. 


INTRODUCTION  BY  HON.  WILLIAM  E.  CHANDLER      . 
PREFACE          ......... 

CHAPTER 

I.  New  Hampshire's  Record          . 
II.     The  Militia  the  Safeguard  of  the  State 

III.  New  Hampshire  to  the  Front 

IV.  Governor  Ichabod  Goodwin      . 

V.  Governor  Berry  and  the  Seventeenth  Infantry    . 

VI.  George  A.  Ramsdell,  Governor  1897-1898 

VII.  Field  and  Staff  of  the  Seventeenth    . 

VIII.  Field  and  Staff,  continued         .  .          .          . 

IX.  Enlistments     ........ 

X.  The  Situation  Reviewed  ...... 

XI.  Camp  Ethan  Colby 

XII.  General  Orders 

XIII.  The  Winter  of  '62-^63  on  Concord  Plains  . 

XIV.  The  Winter  of  ''62-63  on  Concord  Plains,  continued   . 
XV.  Furloughed      ...  . 

XVI.  Return  to  Camp  Ethan  Colby  ..... 

XVII.  Consolidated  with  the  Second  New  Hampshire  . 

XVIII.  Adjutant-General's  Official  Report     .... 

XIX.  Governor  Berry's  Story  of  the  Regiment  . 

XX.  Recognition  by  Congress  ..... 

XXI.  Seventeenth   Men   in  the   Second   Regiment,   and  at 

Gettysburg      ... 

XXII.  Comrade  Whipple's  Diary          .          .  .          . 

XXIII.  Mustered  Out 

XXIV.  In  Memoriam 

XXV.  The  Colonel's  Conclusions         ..... 

XXVI.  The  Adjutant's  Report     . 

XXVII.  The  Quartermaster's  Returns    ..... 

XXVIII.  The  Surgeon's  Diagnosis  ..... 


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TABLE    OF  CONTENTS. 


XXIX.  Reminiscences  by  Rev.  Geo.  S.  Barnes,  Chaplain    .      139 

XXX.  Company  A  .                                        .                                    144 

XXXI.  Company  B  .                                                                            154 

XXXII.  Company  C  .                                                  .                    .156 

XXXIII.  Seventeenth  Men  in  the  Second  Regiment        .          .159 

XXXIV.  Third  District  Men  in  the  Fifteenth  Regiment           .      163 
XXXV.  Third  District  Men  in  the  Sixteenth  Regiment          .      168 

XXXVI.  Grand  Army :  Seventeenth  Men  as  Comrades  .  176 

XXXVII.  The  Music  and  Songs  of  the  War  .  .  .  .184 

XXXVIII.  Regimental  Histories 213 

XXXIX.  Elder  John  G.  Hook  .  .  261 

APPENDIX.  ..........  265 


D  Cot. 


3 1 


^     a 

III 


HISTORY  OF  THE  SEVENTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE  REGIMENT. 


CHAPTER    I. 
NEW  HAMPSHIRE'S   RECORD. 

Why  turn  we  to  our  mountain  homes, 

With  more  than  filial  feeling  ? 
'Tis  here  that  Freedom's  altars  burn 

And  Freedom's  sons  are  kneeling. 

Farmer's  Muse  urn  i  Walpole.  (Colonial.) 

From  earliest  colonial  days,  New  Hampshire  has  ever 
maintained  an  enviable  position  in  the  front  rank  of  civiliza 
tion,  patriotism,  true  manhood,  and  educational  progress. 
"  God  sifted  a  whole  nation,"  said  Stoughton,  "  that  He 
might  send  choice  grain  over  into  this  wilderness." 

"The  militia,  the  town,  the  school,  and  the  church  are  the 
corner-stones  of  the  temple  of  liberty,"  writes  Sanborn,  and 
here  from  the  beginning,  they  were  all  to  be  found,  actively 
organized  in  a  form  nowhere  else  so  complete,  nowhere  else 
so  effective  for  the  purposes  they  were  instituted  to  main 
tain. 

Ne\v  Hampshire  was  the  first  royal  government  in  New 
England,  and  its  people,  so  long  as  justice  was  meted  out 
to  them,  were  faithful  subjects  to  their  sovereign  Lord  and 
King ;  but  immediately  upon  the  establishment  of  this 
government,  and  as  a  safeguard  against  future  tyranny 
or  oppression,  the  assembly  proceeded  to  assert  its  rights  in 
its  first  code  of  laws  to  the  effect  that,  <l  No  act,  imposition, 
law,  or  ordinance  shall  be  valid,  unless  made  by  the  assem 
bly  and  approved  by  the  people."  "  Thus,  at  the  earliest 


1 8       SE  VRNTEENTH  NE  W  HA  MPSHIRE   RE  GIVE  NT. 

moment,"  Bancroft  adds,  "  she  expressed  the  great  and  liv 
ing  principle  of  self-government."     And  when,  shortly  after 
this,  the  people  affirmed   their  right  in   public   convocation 
to     choose     their     own     representatives,     without     let    or 
hindrance    from    either    crown    or    royal     governor,    there 
arose,  perhaps,  the  first  prelude  to   the  American   Revolu 
tion.     The    people    were     determined,    the     governor    was 
equally  so,   and   told   them   this    claim    on    their    part    was 
a    privilege    only,    which     the    crown    might    allow    them, 
but  which  he  for  his  part  did   not  believe  in,  and  which   he 
certainly   should    not   grant.      "  But,"    writes   the    historian 
Fiske,  "  the  resistance  of  the  people  to  this  piece  of  tyranny 
was  so  determined,  that  the  Lords  of  Trade  thought  it  best 
to  yield  !"      And  so  the  governor  gave  way,  and  the  princi 
ple  of  a    free  ballot-box  and    free   representation  was   thus 
early  established.      Other  acts  of  oppression  and  denial  of 
rights  so  wrought   upon  the  minds  of  the  people,  and   their 
resistance  to   unjust  royal  decrees  was   so   determined,  the 
last   of  the  royal   governors    came  to    the  wise   conclusion, 
that   it  would   possibly   be    conducive   to    his   longevity,  to 
transfer  his  residence  to  the  other  side  of  the  Atlantic,  and 
that   in    as  quiet  a  manner  as   possible.     The    transfer   was 
accordingly  made  and  so  another  long  stride  towards  inde 
pendence  was  registered   to  the  credit  of  the  sturdy  sons  of 
the  Granite  State. 

While  in  close  touch  with  all  the  colonies ;  ever  ready  to 
yield  any  but  vital  principles  for  the  benefit  of  the  whole, 
when  occasion  required,  New  Hampshire  declined  being 
forced  into  a  ratification  of  the  constitution  until  ample  time 
had  been  granted  her  citizens  for  its  careful  consideration. 
In  her  usual  cautious  manner  when  dealing  with  matters  of 
the  greatest  import,  her  assembly  devoted  five  full  days  to 
the  deliberate  consideration  of  this  historic  document;  but, 
after  that,  there  was  no  delay.  The  Constitution  was  then 
ratified  at  once  and  by  a  handsome  majority.  "  Make 


NE  W  HAMPSHIRE'S  RE  CORD.  1 9 

haste  slowly"  was  a  pronounced  axiom  of  our  Puritan 
ancestors,  and  upon  it  as  a  corner-stone  has  been  built  the 
success  and  reputation  of  innumerable  descendants,  in  every 
avocation,  and  in  every  part  of  both  hemispheres. 

New  Hampshire  has  ever  been  a  state  of  practical 
people,  and  practical  ideas.  The  idea  of  duty  was  to  do  in 
the  most  thorough  manner  the  thing  that  was  next  to 
be  done.  The  story  of  the  capture  of  Louisburg  was 
the  wonder  of  two  continents ;  the  stand  at  Bunker 
Hill  was  the  admiration  of  the  world.  Our  pioneers  were 
prepared  for  their  work  by  the  conditions  under  which  they 
were  reared,  and  they  almost,  if  not  wholly,  dominated 
their  associates. 

They  anticipated  the  coming  revolution,  and  it  was  long 
before  the  Battle  of  Lexington  even,  that  word  was  brought 
to  the  people  of  Portsmouth  by  Paul  Revere,  months  before 
the  lanterns  glowed  from  Christ  Church  tower,  of  the 
British  order  that  thereafter  no  military  stores  should 
be  sent  to  the  colonies.  Thus  forewarned,  they  at  once 
proceeded  to  elude  the  order  and  prepare  for  active  work. 

It  was  John  Sullivan  of  Durham,  a  gentleman  of  wide 
culture  and  ability,  afterwards  a  member  of  the  first  Conti 
nental  Congress,  commander  of  the  New  Hampshire  forces, 
and  then  major  general,  who,  with  a  gallant  band  of 
followers,  seized  the  stronghold  of  Fort  William  and  Mary, 
imprisoned  the  garrison  and  carried  away  one  hundred  bar 
rels  of  powder,  all  the  small  arms,  a  quantity  of  shot,  and 
sixteen  pieces  of  artillery.  This  was  the  first  result  of  the 
British  order  prohibiting  the  delivery  of  military  stores,  and 
shows  the  alertness  of  the  Puritan  Yankee.  The  powder 
thus  obtained,  went  far  to  make  possible  the  results  after 
wards  secured  in  the  Battle  of  Bunker  Hill. 

Sullivan  fought  in  the  Battles  of  Long  Island,  Trenton, 
Princeton,  Monmouth,  Brandywine,  and  Germantown.  In 
1779,  he  commanded  an  expedition  to  break  the  power  of 


20         SE  VEN'2  'EENTH  NE IV  HA  MPSHfRE   RE  GIMENT. 

the  Six  Nations  and  their  Tory  allies,  and  performed  with 
"  drastic  thoroughness"  this  delicate  and  important  work. 
Sanborn  says  of  him  :  "  He  is  one  of  the  great  men  of  our 
state,  whose  worthy  deeds  posterity  should  not  willingly 
let  die." 

Ten  minutes  after  receiving  news  of  the  Battle  of  Lexing 
ton,  John  Stark  shut  down  his  sawmill,  and  two  hours 
thereafter,  according  to  Fiske,  had  mustered  thirteen  full 
companies,  and  started  for  the  front  leaving  two  hundred 
additional  men  behind  as  the  nucleus  for  a  second  organiza 
tion.  Six  days  later,  two  thousand  New  Hampshire  men 
confronted  General  Gage.  The  left  wing  of  the  army  sta 
tioned  near  Medford  was  composed  of  two  New  Hampshire 
regiments,  commanded  by  two  Londonderry  colonels — 
Stark  and  Reed. 

When  the  advance  of  Burgoyne's  Hessians  towards  Ben- 
nington  was  made  in  August,  1777,  the  whole  country  was 
alarmingly  short  of  supplies,  and  destitute  of  organized 
troops  in  sufficient  number  to  offer  effective  resistance.  It 
was  then  that  John  Langdon  of  Portsmouth,  at  the  time 
speaker  of  the  House,  cut  the  Gordian  knot  by  saying: 

"  Gentlemen,  I  have  three  thousand  dollars  in  hard  money,  thirty 
hogsheads  of  Tobago  rum,  worth  as  much  ;  I  can  pledge  my  plate  for 
as  much  more  ;  these  are  at  the  service  of  the  state.  With  this  money 
we  can  raise  and  provision  troops.  Our  friend,  John  Stark,  will  lead 
them.  If  we  check  Burgoyne,  the  state  can  repay  me;  if  we  do  not, 
the  money  will  be  of  no  use  to  me."1 

Advancing  the  money,  he  enlisted  his  own  company  and 
followed  on  to  Bennington  and  Saratoga. 

"And  the  boon  we  gained  through  the  noble  lender 
Was  the  Bennington  day  and  Burgoyne's  surrender.1" 

Stark  was  at  home  again,  but  at  once  responded  to  the 
call  of  Langdon  and  his  countrymen.  Ill  usage  in  official 


NE  W  HA  M PS  HIKE'S  RECORD.  2 1 

quarters  could  never  dampen  his  courage  or  his  patriotism. 
An  acknowledged  leader,  among  the  ablest  of  all  the  offi 
cers  who  served  in  the  Revolution,  he  at  once  forgot  his 
wrongs  and  gathered  his  troops  for  the  destruction  of 
Baum  and  his  army. 

Volunteers  came  in  so  rapidly  to  join  his  standard  that 
the  Indians  whom  Baum  brought  with  him  began  to  desert 
in  large  numbers,  saying,  "  The  woods  were  full  of  Yan 
kees!"  Stark's  famous  traditional  speech  before  the  Battle 
of  Bennington  is  thus  paraphrased  by  the  poet,  Fitz-Greene 
Halleck: 

When  on  that  field,  his  band  the  Hessians  fought, 

Briefly  he  spoke  before  the  fight  began  : 
"  Soldiers!  those  German  gentlemen  were  bought 

For  four  pounds  eight  and  seven  pence  per  man 
By  England's  King  :  A  bargain,  it  is  thought. 

Are  we  worth  more  ?     Let 's  prove  it  while  we  can  ; 
For  we  must  beat  them,  boys,  ere  set  of  sun, 

Or  my  wife  sleeps  a  widow.11     It  was  done. 

Yes,  beat  them  he  did,  and  the  destruction  of  Burgoyne's 
army  followed  as  a  consequence.  Every  valley  and  hillside 
sent  its  men  to  reinforce  Stark's  army,  until  at  Saratoga, 
October  17,  1/77,  the  British  power  was  broken  by  this 
independent  action  of  New  Hampshire,  for  it  was  a  state 
campaign  and  its  general  reported  only  to  the  legislature. 

What  wonder,  that  with  these  and  other  kindred  repre 
sentative  men  in  both  the  forum,  the  mart,  and  the  camp, 
New  Hampshire  became  a  sturdy,  self-reliant  common 
wealth,  dowered  with  such  an  heritage. 

And  as  she  always  has  been,  so  doubtless  will  she  ever 
remain.  Men  are  raised  up  to  meet  the  hour,  and  when 
the  cry  goes  forth,  "We  want  men,"  either  by  state  or 
nation,  New  Hampshire's  quota  will  always  be  forthcoming. 
Her  record  during  the  Civil  War  compares  honorably  with 
that  of  the  Revolutionary  period  ;  and  in  the  struggle  for 


22         SEVENTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE  REGIMENT. 

the  freedom   of  Cuba  she   again  placed  herself  where  she 
will  ever  be  found — in  the  very  front  ranks   of   the   nation. 

"  Our  fathers1  hero  deeds  are  known  and  loved, 

As  the  recurring  years  their  measure  fill. 
Their  names  are  graven  on  Fame^  sounding  shield, 
From  Yorkto\vn1s  triumph  back  to  Bunker  Hill.'1 


CHAPTER    II. 

THE   MILITIA  THE  SAFEGUARD  OF  THE  STATE. 

"  What  constitutes  a  state  ? 

Not  high  raised  battlements,  or  labored  mound, 
Thick  wall,  or  moated  gate  ; 

Not  cities  fair,  with  spires  and  turrets  crowned; 
No  ;  men,  high-minded  men." 

It  is  essential  to  the  stability  of  every  form  and  denomi 
nation  of  government,  that  a  well-organized  military  body 
be  provided,  both  to  maintain  order  within  and  to  repel 
aggression  from  without.  In  a  republic  like  our  own,  this 
body  is  composed  chiefly  of  the  militia  of  the  states,  which 
constitutes  its  armies  in  time  of  war  and  upholds  its  integrity 
in  time  of  peace.  Recognizing  this  principle,  our  fore 
fathers  early  decreed  that  "A  well  organized  militia  is  the 
sure  and  natural  defence  of  the  state,"  and  guaranteed  to 
the  people  the  right  to  bear  arms.  The  wisdom  of  this 
decree  has  ever  been  verified  when  occasion  required  and 
the  guarantee  thus  given  has  never  been  abused. 

When  Napoleon,  defeated  and  a  captive,  was  restricted 
to  the  scant  limits  of  Elba,  the  veterans  of  the  peninsular 
campaigns — his  conquerors — landed  on  our  shores,  antici 
pating  from  the  nature  and  habits  of  our  people  an  easy 
victory.  But,  met  by  men  warlike  as  themselves,  they 
retired  after  a  brief  contest,  bearing  with  them  as  their  only 
trophies  the  plunder  of  some  few  villages,  and  recollections 
of  Queenstown  and  Lundy's  Lane,  of  Forts  Stephenson  and 
Erie,  of  Baltimore  and  New  Orleans. 

The  first  gun  fired  on  Sumter  awoke  the  loyal  states  as 
if  by  magic.  The  president's  memorable  call  for  troops 


24         SEVENTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE  REGIMENT. 

was  followed  by  an  uprising  of  the  people  that  would  at 
once  have  filled  the  army  it  was  then  supposed  would  be 
required,  ten  times  over.  "  Have  we  a  country  to  save, 
and  shall  we  save  it?  "  he  asked,  and  not  only  thousands, 
but  hundreds  of  thousands,  responded  quickly  to  his  sum 
mons.  "  Surely,"  says  Townsend,  in  his  "  Honors  of  the 
Empire  State,"  "  surely,  if  the  voice  of  the  people  can 
ever  be  accounted  as  the  inspiration  of  God,  that  which 
came  to  us  in  the  united  tones  of  the  great  mass  of  states 
men  and  jurists,  historians  and  scholars,  philosophers  and 
poets,  warriors  and  spiritual  guides,  must  be  so  accepted. 
By  the  side  of  the  Union  stood  Bancroft  and  Motley, 
Sparks  and  Palfrey,  who  had  made  the  history  of  its  free 
institutions  their  peculiar  study.  The  harps  of  Bryant 
and  Longfellow,  Whittier,  Holmes,  and  Lowell,  were  strung- 

o 

to  the  music  of  the  Union,  to  inspire  the  hearts  of  the 
people,  and  nerve  their  arms."  But  more  significant  than 
all  else,  more  indicative  of  that  love  for  the  flag,  which 
inspires  every  American  citizen,  most  conclusive  of  the 
wisdom  of  our  forefathers,  when  they  decreed  the  militia 
to  be  the  sure  and  natural  defence  of  the  state,  was  that 
uprising  of  the  sturdy  yeomanry  of  the  nation  in  answer  to 
the  calls  of  the  president  for  troops — more  troops,  until  an 
army  of  two  millions  and  a  half,  from  first  to  last,  and  with 
apparent  ease,  was  sent  to  the  front.  The  total  enrolled 
militia,  North  and  South,  at  the  breaking  out  of  the  war 
was  more  than  three  and  one-half  millions,  while  the  total 
quotas  furnished  on  both  sides  were  over  three  millions. 
That  war  involved  the  loss  of  over  five  hundred  thousand 
lives,  the  wounding  and  premature  death  of  probably  as 
many  more,  and  cost  the  government  over  eight  billion 
dollars.  But  it  settled  for  all  time  the  position  of  the  citi 
zen  militia  and  the  impregnable  position  of  the  army,  so 
organized,  as  the  natural  and  effective  safeguard  of  the 
state.  It  was  not  as  major-generals,  or  even  as  colonels, 


THE   MILITIA    THE   SAFEGUARD    OF   THE  STATE.       25 

captains,  or  lieutenants,  that  these  men  volunteered.  It 
was  better  still,  they  did  it  as  men — men  who  loved  their 
country,  and  were  willing,  in  the  ranks,  to  show  their 
loyalty,  and,  if  necessary,  give  their  lives  for  its  mainte 
nance.  All  honor  to  the  privates  who  did  the  fighting, 
as  well  as  to  the  officers  who  led  them  into  battle.  Their 
patriotism  was  as  great,  perhaps  in  many  cases  greater: 
their  lives  were  as  dear  to  them  and  their  services,  under 
more  trying  circumstances,  were  as  cheerfully  given. 
"The  Privates'  Song,"  as  printed  in  a  Southern  news 
paper,  tells  the  pathetic  story  : 

It's  nothin'  more  or  less  than  the  old,  old  story— 
The  private  does  the  fightin1  an"  the  general  gets  the  glory  ! 

But  away 

To  the  fray 

For  we  're  in  it  to  obey — 
The  private  does  the  fightin1  an'  the  general  draws  the  pay  ! 

It's  nothin'  more  or  less  than  the  old,  old  story— 
The  private  makes  the  harvest  an"  the  general  reaps  the  glory  ! 

But  I  say, 

Boys,  away  ! 
For  we  're  in  it  to  obey, 
And  we  '11  climb  through  twenty  battles  to  the  epaulettes  some  day ! 

Nothin'  more  or  less  than  the  old,  old  story — 

The  cap'ns  an'  the  colonels  an'  the  generals  gets  the  glory  ! 

But  we  '11  fight 

All  in  sight ; 

For  we  're  in  it  for  the  right ; 
God  keep  the  generals  hearty  till  the  bugles  blow  "  Good-night !  " 

It  is  a  significant  fact,  that  search  history  as  we  may,  the 
standing  army  is  never  to  be  found  fighting  for  liberty's 
sake.  The  Swiss  at  Mogarten  and  Sempach ;  the  Scots, 
under  Bruce  and  Wallace  ;  the  English  under  Cromwell  and 
Hampden ;  the  French  in  the  Revolution  ;  the  Hungarians 
and  Italians  under  Kossuth  and  Garibaldi,  the  great  army 


26         SEVENTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE   REGIMENT. 

which  swept  Napoleon  from  Germany  in  1813;  our  own 
honored  forefathers  in  the  War  of  the  Revolution,  and  the 
Cubans  in  their  struggle  for  life  and  liberty,  these,  all  these, 
were  nothing  but  militia.  Who  dares  say  the  militia  has 
not  accomplished  great  results?  Let  standing  armies  show 
their  record  and  a  righteous  judge  award  the  palm. 

While  we,  as  a  republic,  rely  upon  our  militia,  and  while 
a  large  standing  army  would  be  the  sure  forerunner  of 
despotism,  an  adequate  regular  force  should,  nevertheless, 
be  always  ready  for  emergencies.  And  so  with  us,  the 
two  systems  of  militia  and  regular  troops  are  judiciously 
combined.  The  regulars,  comparatively  few  in  number, 
are  yet  sufficient  for  the  duties  imposed  upon  them  in  times 
of  peace  ;  and  when  danger  comes,  or  the  war  cloud  settles 
over  the  country,  they  form  a  nucleus  around  which  an 
army,  drawn  from  the  militia  of  the  states,  quickly  gath 
ers,  being  rendered  doubly  effective  by  the  combination. 
The  militia  is  always  ready.  As  quickly  as  .the  army  of 
Cadmus  sprang  from  the  teeth  of  the  slaughtered  dragon, 
so  quickly  our  countrymen,  with  sharp  bayonets  and  reso 
lute  hearts,  rush  to  the  conflict  when  the  call  is  sounded, 
eager  to  serve  that  country,  whose  laws  they  make  as  well 
as  enforce. 

They  have  proved  beyond  dispute,  the  strength  of  the 
foundation  upon  which  our  institutions  rest,  and  the  fitness 
and  will  of  the  American  people  as  a  reliable  and  suc 
cessful  soldiery.  In  their  ready  patriotism  we  can  always 
trust,  firm  in  the  belief  that  the  genius  of  our  institutions 
has  indicated  the  true  line  of  military  policy,  and  that  we 
may  safely  rely,  under  God,  for  the  protection  of  the  best  and 
wisest  government  ever  devised  by  man,  upon  the  loyal 
devotion  of  the  American  Militia. 


CHAPTER  III. 

NEW  HAMPSHIRE  TO  THE  FRONT. 

'Tis  ours,  undaunted,  to  defend 

The  dear-bought  rich  inheritance, 
And  spite  of  every  hostile  hand, 

We'll  fight,  bleed,  die  in  its  defence  ; 
Pursue  our  fathers'  path  to  fame, 

And  emulate  their  glorious  name. 

Sewall. 

The  War  of  the  Rebellion  began  when  Major  Anderson 
refused  to  surrender  Fort  Sumter,  April  iith,  1861.  The 
fort  was  taken  by  the  Confederates,  after  a  bloodless  con 
flict  on  the  1 3 th  of  April,  and  on  the  I5th  of  April,  Presi 
dent  Lincoln  issued  his  proclamation  calling  upon  the  states 
to  furnish  their  quotas  for  an  army  of  seventy-five  thousand 
men. 

Within  twenty-four  hours  after  the  president's  call  was 
issued  in  Washington,  the  proclamation  of  Governor  Icha- 
bod  Goodwin  had  been  formulated,  and  sent  forward  to 
every  part  of  the  state,  calling  the  loyal  sons  of  New  Hamp 
shire  to  immediate  action,  and  for  a  speedy  enlistment  of 
the  necessary  regimental  organizations. 

As  indicative  of  the  possible  difficulties  in  the  way  of  a 
prompt  response  to  the  governor's  call,  and  as  an  example 
of  how  little  either  possible  or  actual  difficulties  can  for  a 
moment  restrain  or  impede  the  prompt  exhibition  of  the 
loyal  and  patriotic  spirit  which  has  ever  been  a  strong 
characteristic  of  our  people,  it  is  well  that  the  exact  condi 
tion  of  the  state  at  that  time,  from  a  military  standpoint, 
should  be  thoroughly  understood. 

At   the  breaking  out   of  the  war,  there  was  not  a  single 


28         SEVENTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE   REGIMENT. 

organized   regiment  within   the   state.      The    old    "  general 
trainings"  or  "  annual  musters,"  with    all  their   tinsel,  color, 
glitter,  and   noise,  which  we,  who   must  now  consent  to   be 
called  the  "  old  boys,"  still  remember  with  mingled   feelings 
of  awe  and  pleasure,  were  held  for  the  last  time  in  the  early 
fifties.      The  then  military  organizations  of  the  state,  divided 
into   forty-two   regiments,    and    comprising   all    able-bodied 
male  citizens  between  the  ages  of  eighteen  and   forty-five, 
ceased   to  be  operative.     The  regiments  were  disbanded   or 
went  to  pieces  in  the  natural  way.       An  occasional   leather 
hat  with  its  brass  mountings,  including  the  American  eagle, 
or  some  other  part  of  a  uniform  in   the  home  of  a  former 
officer;    the   regulation  powder-house  upon  a  hill,  the  gun- 
house  in  the  village,  and   the  arsenal  stored  with   flint-lock 
muskets,  alone  remained   to   be   the  wonder  of   the  young, 
and   the  souvenirs   of  departed  greatness.      In  place  of  the 
old  militia,   there  existed  what  one  writer  has  termed   "  the 
paper  system,"  which  was  made  up  of  three  major  generals 
and  six  brigadier  generals,  with  their  respective  staffs.     We 
may  be  sure  these  were  all   in  commission,  but  their  forces 
were  entirely  unorganized  and   existed   only  in  that  condi 
tion.     There  were,  however,  two  "  military  and  social  com 
mands" — the    Governor's    Horse     Guards,    a    battalion     of 
mounted  horsemen  intended  chiefly  for  escort  duty,  and  the 
still  older  organization  known  as  the  Amoskeag  Veterans. 
It  was  at  the  annual  dinner  which  followed  the  parade  of  one 
of  these  bodies — the  reason  is  obvious  for  not  being  more 
explicit   as   to  which    one — that  a    prominent  son   of  New 

Hampshire    gave    the     celebrated     toast:      "The : 

Invincible  in  peace;    invisible  in  war." 

There  was,  besides,  a  company  known  as  the  Lynde- 
borough  Artillery,  and  all  told  there  may  have  been  a 
possible  half  dozen  other  volunteer  companies  scattered 
throughout  the  state.  This  force  was  invited  rather  than 
ordered  to  hold  a  three  days'  "muster"  in  Nashua  during 


NEW  HAMPSHIRE    TO    THE   FRONT.  29 

the  autumn  of  1860,  but  it  was  not  much  of  a  success,  and 
no  further  attempt  in  this  line  was  ever  made.  And  so  it 
was,  that  when  the  governor  issued  his  call  for  troops  we 
were  wholly  unprepared  for  immediate  action.  There  was  no 
organized  force  that  could  be  sent  to  the  front,  there  was 
no  nucleus  upon  which  to  build  up  volunteer  regiments. 

Adjutant-General  Abbott,  says  a  writer  most  familiar 
with  the  events  of  that  period,  and  wrhose  record  \ve  are 
permitted  to  freely  use,  found  himself  without  arms  or 
equipments  and  confronted  by  an  almost  appalling  emer 
gency.  He  was  zealous,  and  entitled  to  commendation  for 
his  labors  in  fitting  out  the  earlier  regiments  which  went  to 
the  front  exceptionally  well  provided. 

General  Abbott  resigned  in  the  summer  of  1861,  and 
upon  application  made  by  him  to  the  war  department 
direct,  was  authorized  to  recruit  in  New  Hampshire  a  full 
regiment  of  volunteers.  It  was  made  a  distinct  under 
standing,  however,  at  his  request,  that  the  Government 
might  revoke  the  commission  of  any  officer  who  was 
found  for  any  reason  to  be  incompetent  or  unfit  for  the 
highest  line  of  field  service ;  and  it  was  also  a  condition 
precedent  that  the  regiment  should  be  mustered  and  ready 
to  march  not  later  than  thirty  days  from  the  Qth  of 
September,  1861.  The  regiment,  however,  was  not 
ordered  to  the  front  until  January  14,  1862. 

General  Abbott  waived  his  right  to  command  as  colonel 
upon  condition  that  the  position  should  be  filled  by  a  West 
Point  graduate  of  acknowledged  ability,  and  under  this 
agreement  a  colonel's  commission  was  issued  to  Haldiman 
S.  Putnam,  a  New  Hampshire  boy  from  Cornish  in  Sulli 
van  county,  and  Abbott  was  made  lieutenant-colonel.  The 
regiment  became  the  Seventh  New  Hampshire.  Colonel 
Putnam  was  killed  at  Fort  Wagner  July  18,  1863,  and 
Abbott  was  promoted  to  command.  He  served  with 
the  regiment  and  made  a  part  of  its  ever  brilliant  record 


30         SEVENTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE   REGIMENT. 

until  the  summer  of  '64,  when  he  was  promoted  to  a  bri 
gade,  and  afterwards  brevetted  for  gallant  service  at  Fort 
Fisher,  North  Carolina.  After  the  close  of  the  war,  he 
represented  that  commonwealth  in  the  United  States  Senate. 

But  notwithstanding  we  had  no  military  organization 
save  that  of  "  major  and  brigadier  generals  with  their  staffs  ;" 
notwithstanding  the  love  for  home  and  the  peaceful  avoca 
tions  of  a  contented  people,  the  governor's  proclamation 
kindled  an  enthusiasm  and  engendered  a  patriotic  spirit  as 
lofty  and  intense  as  that  called  forth  by  the  famous  ride  of 
Paul  Revere  which  roused  the  people  who  fought  so 
bravely  at  Bunker  Hill.  It  occupied  General  Stark  for  ten 
minutes  only  to  make  all  necessary  arrangements  for  his 
first  Revolutionary  campaign  ;  it  required  but  two  hours  to 
call  in  his  thirteen  full  companies  and  start  them  onward 
towards  Charlestown.  The  same  spirit  which  animated 
Stark,  Sullivan,  and  Langdon  was  again  equally  manifest 
in  the  spring  of  sixty-one,  nor  did  it  ever  again  slumber  so 
long  as  men  were  wanted  to  uphold  our  flag  and  preserve 
in  its  entirety  the  national  government. 

In  answer  to  the  governor's  call  for  troops,  recruiting 
offices  were  at  once  opened  in  all  parts  of  the  state ;  and 
volunteers  came  forward  so  fast  that  within  two  weeks, 
more  than  the  number  required  for  the  full  quota  of  the 
state  had  either  been  enlisted  or  had  offered  their  services 
for  enrollment  in  the  very  first  regiments  to  be  thereafter 
organized,  and  to  fill  any  vacancies  in  the  regiments 
then  going  to  the  front. 

Regimental  organization  was  at  once  commenced  and 
pushed  forward  with  the  greatest  celerity.  The  First  In 
fantry,  under  Col.  Mason  W.  Tappan,  was  drilled  and 
equipped  in  Concord,  and  started  for  the  front  on  the 
morning  of  Saturday,  June  1st,  the  earliest  moment  possi 
ble  after  perfecting  its  efficiency  and  supplying  necessary 
arms  and  equipments.  No  one  in  Concord  at  the  time 


NEW  HAMPSHIRE    TO    THE   FRONT.  31 

needs  to  be   reminded  of  the  ovation  the  regiment  received 
on  its  march  to  the  depot. 

Meantime  the  drill  and  organization  of  the  Second  Infan 
try,  under  able  and  experienced  officers,  was  going  on  at 
Portsmouth.  Its  men  were  all  anxious  to  be  at  the  front 
when  word  came  from  the  war  department  that  no  more 
three  months  men  could  be  accepted  from  New  Hamp 
shire,  the  full  number  required  having  already  been  mus 
tered  in  !  But  under  the  second  call  from  the  president  for 
three  years  men,  issued  May  3d,  the  governor  was  in 
structed  to  enroll  one  regiment  of  1,046  officers  and  men. 
The  regiment  was  at  once  reorganized  under  the  call  for 
three  years,  and  soon  had  in  camp  its  full  complement  of 
men.  Under  the  gallant  colonel,  Oilman  Marston,  it  left 
the  state  June  2Oth,  and  was  ever  the  pride  and  honor  of 
our  people.  The  history  of  our  own  Seventeenth  Infantry 
was  in  after  time  so  wrought  in  and  bound  up  with  that  of 
the  Second,  the  writer  may  be  pardoned  for  quoting  the 
following  brief  summary  of  its  subsequent  career : 

"  To  give  the  record  of  this  famous  regiment  would  be  to  write  the 
history  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  in  which  it  served  throughout  the 
war,  reenlisting  at  the  expiration  of  its  three  years  of  duty.  It  was  a 
nursery  from  which  came  many  accomplished  officers  for  other  regi 
ments  ;  it  received  and  assimilated  the  Seventeenth  Regiment  in  1863, 
and  a  great  number  of  recruits  ;  and  during  its  entire  service  was  con 
spicuous  for  bravery,  soldierly  behavior,  and  untiring  devotion  to  the 
cause.  Its  record  was  always  right,  and  its  well-earned  fame  is 
beyond  praise." 

Thus  it  was  demonstrated  how,  even  under  adverse  cir 
cumstances,  New  Hampshire  was  early  at  the  front ;  but 
while  all  honor  is  due  to  the  noble  sons  and  true  patriots 
who  so  quickly  came  forward  at  their  country's  call,  equal 
honor  at  least  is  due  to  the  energy,  activity,  and  zeal  of  the 
worthy  chief  magistrate  at  that  time,  Governor  Ichabod 
Goodwin  of  Portsmouth. 


CHAPTER    IV. 
GOVERNOR  ICHABOD  GOODWIN. 

His  life  was  gentle ;  and  the  elements 

So  mixed  in  him,  that  nature  might  stand  up 

And  say  to  all  the  world,  "  This  was  a  man." 

Shakespeare. 

The  student  in  American  history  will  not  fail  to  note 
that  in  times  of  greatest  peril  when  dangers  threaten  and 
disaster  is  made  possible,  a  kind  Providence  has  ever 
raised  up  the  right  men  to  guide  the  ship  of  state,  take  com 
mand  of  our  armies  in  the  field,  and  mould  public  opinion  in 
the  forum.  Thus  has  it  ever  been  from  the  days  of  the  immor 
tal  Washington  to  those  of  the  Martyr  Lincoln,  and  thus  it 
remains  to-day,  when  as  these  pages  are  written  the  whole 
world  rings  with  praise  for  our  brave  officers  and  men  in 
the  war  waged  against  Spanish  intolerance  and  cruelty. 

Much  has  been  written  and  more  has  been  said  concern 
ing  the  governors  of  the  different  states  in  office,  when 
Civil  War  was  declared.  Governor  Andrew  of  Massachu 
setts,  by  his  noble  deeds  and  energetic  example,  inspired 
his  whole  state  and  in  a  measure  the  entire  North.  Gov 
ernor  Morgan  of  New  York  made  possible  the  speedy  for 
warding  of  troops  which,  with  those  of  Massachusetts, 
helped  save  the  national  capital  from  capture,  and  formed 
the  nucleus  for  the  ever  increasing  army.  But  side  by 
side  with  Andrew  and  Morgan,  and  as  well  deserving  of  the 
admiration  and  esteem  of  a  grateful  country,  stands  Gov 
ernor  Ichabod  Goodwin,  the  honored  chief  magistrate  of 
our  own  New  Hampshire.  Quiet  and  unassuming  in  dis 
position,  loved  most  by  those  who  knew  him  best,  Governor 
Goodwin  was  first  of  all  a  man  of  peace.  Known  as  an 


GOVERNOR  ICHABOD  GOODWIN. 


GOVERNOR   ICHABOD    GOODWIN.  33 

eminently  successful  merchant,  with  a  reputation  of  the 
most  unsullied  character,  an  energy  which  knew  how  to 
overcome  obstacles,  and  a  noted  capacity  for  affairs  of  im 
port,  he  was  elected  to  fill  the  gubernatorial  chair  in  the 
year  1859,  and  as  a  result  of  his  excellent  administration, 
was  re-elected  in  the  following  year. 

But  it  was  the  crisis  of  '61  that  brought  to  light  his  real 
merit  and  showed  of  what  metal  he  was  made.  While 
peace  and  peaceful  pursuits  were  his  natural  attributes,  he 
loved  his  country  first  of  all,  and  when  its  entirety  was 
menaced,  gave  himself  wholly  to  the  task  of  defending  its 
honor  and  preserving  its  boundaries.  He  found  the  state 
without  an  organized  militia,  without  a  dollar  in  the  treas 
ury  which  could  be  used  for  war  purposes,  and  without 
arms  or  equipments  of  a  proper  kind.  But  he  was  fully 
equal  to  the  emergency.  Troops  were  raised,  and,  on  the 
strength  of  Governor  Goodwin's  personal  repute  as  the  only 
security,  the  banking  institutions  and  citizens  of  the  state 
offered  him  as  a  loan  $680,000,  to  be  used  for  military 
purposes.  The  offer  was  accepted,  but  with  his  usual 
business  sagacity  and  that  of  his  immediate  staff,  the 
disbursements  were  so  managed  that  less  than  one  sixth  of 
the  amount  tendered  was  actually  expended.  For  this  sum 
he  was  afterwards  reimbursed  by  the  legislature.  "  But," 
says  one  of  his  biographers,  "the  fact  remains,  that  to  his 
patriotism,  firmness,  responsibility,  and  executive  energy, 
New  Hampshire  is  indebted,  both  for  her  prompt  and 
creditable  response  to  the  call  of  the  president,  and  the 
inauguration  of  the  system  which  raised,  equipped,  and 
forwarded  the  succeeding  commands,  all  of  which  earned 
the  gratitude  of  the  state  and  reflected  honor  upon  it." 

With  the  expiration  of  his  second  term  in  office,  Gov 
ernor  Goodwin  retired  to  private  life,  and  was  succeeded 
by  Nathaniel  S.  Berry,  a  devoted  public  servant  and  a 
faithful  administrator  of  public  affairs. 


CHAPTER   V. 
GOVERNOR  BERRY  AND  THE  SEVENTEENTH  INFANTRY. 

"  We  are  coming,  we  are  coming, 

Our  Union  to  restore. 
We  are  coming,  Father  Abraham, 
Three  hundred  thousand  more." 

In  July,  1862,  President  Lincoln  issued  a  proclamation 
for  300,000  volunteers.  Up  to  this  time  New  Hampshire 
had  raised,  equipped,  and  sent  to  the  front  fourteen  full 
regiments  of  infantry,  a  battery  of  light  artillery,  and  four 
companies  of  cavalry.  The  state  had  so  far  exceeded  its 
quota  that  but  three  regiments  were  now  required.  It  was 
deemed  advisable  that  these  should  be  raised  with  as  little 
delay  as  possible.  Upon  the  governor  and  his  council 
devolved  the  task  of  accomplishing  this  work  in  a  way  that 
should  be  most  creditable  to  the  state,  and  helpful  at  the 
earliest  moment  to  our  armies  in  the  field.  The  percentage 
of  the  enrolled  militia  already  under  arms  was  so  large  that 
some  difficulty  was  feared  in  filling  the  quota. 

Nathaniel  S.  Berry  then  occupied  the  chair  of  state.  He 
had  been  elected  governor  in  March,  1861,  and  was  re- 
elected  for  another  year  in  March,  1862.  Under  his 
administration  all  regiments  from  the  Third  to  the  Eight 
eenth  inclusive  were  enlisted  ;  and  but  two,  the  First  and 
Second,  were  organized  before  his  accession  to  office. 
Governor  Berry  was  a  man  whose  experience  might  well 
have  prepared  him  for  the  emergency  which  now  existed. 
He  was  well  acquainted  with  the  still  remaining  resources 
of  the  state  ;  knew  the  will  and  disposition  of  the  people, 
and  the  faith  they  placed  in  him  as  a  sturdy,  honored,  and 


GOVERNOR  NATHANIEL  S.  BERRY. 


GOVERNOR  BERRY  AND    THE   SEVENTEENTH,         35 

upright  chief  magistrate.  His  previous  calls  had  ever  been 
responded  to  cheerfully,  and  his  care  and  consideration  of 
the  regiments  from  the  time  of  recruiting  to  the  end  of  his 
official  career  showed  him  ever  to  have  been  the  soldiers' 
friend,  anxious  so  far  as  possible  to  alleviate  their  hard 
ships,  and  supply  existing  needs.  He  was  a  conscientious 
administrator  of  public  affairs ;  in  thorough  accord  with 
the  government  at  Washington,  a  zealous  defender  of  his 
country's  rights,  and  hesitated  at  no  personal  sacrifice  in 
the  painstaking  discharge  of  the  onerous  duties  imposed 
upon  him.  He  had  at  this  time  as  members  of  his  executive 
council,  Richard  P.  J.  Tenney  of  Pittsfield,  Oliver  Wyatt  of 
Dover,  Oliver  Pillsbury  of  Henniker,  Ethan  Colby  of  Cole- 
brook,  and  C.  F.  Brooks  of  Westmoreland,  all  good  men 
of  sound  judgment,  business  experience,  and  wise  determi 
nation. 

In  deciding  upon  the  best  and  surest  manner  for  the 
early  enlistment  of  the  three  regiments  required  to  fill 
the  state's  quota,  the  governor  and  council  called  in  con 
sultation  such  of  the  prominent  public  and  military  men 
of  the  state  as  could  then  be  reached,  and  asked  for  their 
opinions.  "Among  these,"  says  Governor  Berry,  in  one 
of  his  official  documents,  "  from  his  familiarity  with  the 
state,  his  prior  connections  with  the  service,  and  his  posi 
tion  in  the  legislature,  was  Colonel  Henry  O.  Kent." 

After  a  full  knowledge  of  all  the  facts  as  presented  to 
him,  and  an  exhaustive  review  of  the  state's  resources, 
Colonel  Kent  "  suggested  that  the  three  regiments  called 
for  be  assigned  respectively  to  the  three  congressional  dis 
tricts  of  the  state,  as  then  constituted." 

We  quote  again  from  Governor  Berry's  official  utterance : 

"  This  plan  was  adopted;  and  it  was  decided  to  organize  the  Fif 
teenth,  Sixteenth,  and  Seventeenth  Infantry  Regiments  in  the  First, 
Second,  and  Third  Congressional  Districts  ;  to  appoint  their  field  offi 
cers,  and  authorize  them  to  recruit  for  their  respective  commands. 


36        SEVENTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE   REGIMENT. 

John  W.  Kingman  was  appointed  colonel  of  the  Fifteenth  Regiment ; 
James  Pike,  of  the  Sixteenth  Regiment;  and  Henry  O.  Kent,  of  the 
Seventeenth  Regiment,  and  said  regiments  were  ordered  into  camp 
consecutively.11 

Doubtless  the  adoption  of  this  plan  for  the  organization 
of  the  three  regiments  was  wise  and  judicious.  Each  con 
gressional  district  was  accorded  the  honor  of  raising  its 
own  regiment.  In  each  of  these  districts  the  governor, 
with  advice  of  council,  appointed  as  colonel  of  the  con 
gressional  regiment  the  man  in  that  district  most  calculated 
in  their  opinion  to  inspire  confidence  among  his  constitu 
ents,  and  best  fitted  by  education  and  experience  for  com 
mand  in  the  field ;  one  whose  personal  popularity  and 
magnetism  would  rally  to  his  standard  a  sufficient  number 
of  men  in  his  own  district  to  fill  the  regiment  in  the  short 
est  possible  time ;  for  time  had  become  an  important  factor 
in  all  the  plans  and  operations  of  the  government.  The 
"  sixty  days  "  of  Seward's  prophecy  had  long  since  passed 
away;  the  outlook  was  not  as  encouraging  as  the  people 
had  anticipated  ;  there  was  a  manifest  discontent,  however 
well  concealed,  in  many  quarters,  and  more  soldiers  for  a 
speedy  termination  of  the  war  was  then  the  policy  pur 
sued. 

Moreover,  it  was  thought  that  the  plan  adopted  would 
cause  emulation  between  the  districts,  and  that  each  one 
would  strive  to  be  first  in  making  up  its  quota  and  report 
ing  for  duty.  But  besides  all  this,  the  fact  that  each  regi 
ment  was  to  be  officered  by  men  who  were  well  known 
throughout  the  counties  from  which  the  volunteers  were  to 
be  called,  would,  it  was  rightly  argued,  result  in  the  largest 
number  of  volunteers  and  be  productive  of  the  least  delay. 
We  can  all  remember  how  easy  it  was  to  form  a  whole 
company  in  comparatively,  small  towns,  when  all  could  go 
under  officers  selected  from  among  their  own  townsmen. 
Perhaps  it  may  have  been  a  knowledge  of  this  which  sug- 


GOVERNOR  BERRY  AND    THE   SEVENTEENTH.         37 

gested  the  congressional  division  as  the  best  arrangement 
possible. 

The  congressional  districts,  as  they  existed  at  that  time, 
and  the  assignments  for  the  raising  of  a  full  regiment  in 
each,  under  Governor  Berry's  order  as  already  given,  were 
as  follows : 

First  Congressional  District:  Counties  of  Rockingham, 
Strafford,  Belknap,  and  Carroll :  Fifteenth  Regiment,  John 
W.  Kingman,  colonel. 

Second  Congressional  District:  Counties  of  Merrimack 
and  Hillsborough  :  Sixteenth  Regiment,  James  Pike,  colonel. 

Third  Congressional  District:  Counties  of  Cheshire,  Sul 
livan,  Grafton,  and  Coos :  Seventeenth  Regiment,  Henry  O. 
Kent,  colonel. 

All  preliminaries  having  been  thus  settled,  additional 
field  officers  were  appointed  by  the  governor  and  council, 
and  the  work  of  recruiting  commenced  in  earnest. 


CHAPTER   VI. 
GEORGE  A.  RAMSDELL,  GOVERNOR  1897-1898. 

BY  HENRY   O.    KENT. 

As  this  is  perhaps  the  last  regimental  history  of  the 
days  of  the  war  for  the  Union  ;  recognizing  the  significant 
fact,  that  at  this  writing,  a  generation  later  than  the  close 
of  that  conflict,  we  are  again  under  arms,  this  time,  thank 
God,  a  united  people,  either  section  of  the  country  vying 
with  the  other  in  noble  emulation  for  the  honor  of  the  flag, 
and  when  a  New  Hampshire  regiment  is  again  in  the  field, 
it  seems  peculiarly  fitting  that  this  volume  be  the  connect 
ing  link  between  the  military  record  of  the  glorious  past 
and  the  story  that  shall  be  told  in  like  manner  of  the  deeds 
of  her  sons  in  this  conflict. 

To  that  end  it  also  seems  fitting  that  we  present  a  brief 
narrative  of  the  personality  and  career  of  the  present  chief 
executive  of  the  state  and  commander-in-chief  of  its  mili 
tary  power — the  honored  citizen  who,  by  the  choice  of  its 
people,  enjoys  the  high  distinction  of  being  a  War  Gov- 
crnor,  and  merits  by  his  wise  and  vigorous  action,  a  place 
among  the  trio  thus  formed — Ichabod  Goodwin,  Nathaniel 
S.  Berry,  and  George  A.  Ramsdell. 

The  writer  has  known  Governor  Ramsdell  through  the 

o 

vicissitudes   of  an    active  life,  with    respect  for  his  sterling 
qualities  and  absolute  integrity  as  a  citizen. 

George  Allen  Ramsdell,  born  in  Milford,  March  11, 
1834,  is  of  English  stock  and  from  one  of  the  early  fami 
lies  of  New  England.  He  took  a  preparatory  academic 
course  at  the  well  known  McCollom  Institute  at  Mont 


GOVERNOR  GEORGE  A.  RAMSDELL. 


GOVERNOR   GEORGE   A.    RAMSDELL.  39 

Vernon,  was  an  undergraduate  at  Dartmouth,  from 
which  he  later  received  the  degree  of  A.  M.,  was  admitted 
to  the  Bar,  and  was  for  a  long  time  clerk  of  the  courts  for 
Hillsborough  county.  After  his  retirement  from  this 
responsible  position  in  which  he  often  acted  with  great 
approval  as  a  trier  of  cases,  he  was  tendered  a  seat  upon 
the  Supreme  Bench  by  Governor  John  B.  Smith. 

He  has  for  years  been  identified  with  the  development 
and  progress  of  Nashua,  his  adopted  city,  being  prominent 
in  all  good  works;  serving  upon  the  board  of  education,  as 
trustee  of  the  public  library,  member  of  the  legislature,  of 
the  constitutional  convention  of  1876,  as  president  of  the 
trustees  of  the  State  Industrial  school,  and  as  a  member  of 
the  Executive  Council  of  the  Governor.  He  has  long  been 
a  director  in  railroads,  manufacturing  enterprises,  and  bank 
president  and  treasurer. 

His  position  and  influence  in  moral  affairs  has  always 
been  potential  on  the  right  side  ;  as  a  consistent  member  of 
the  Congregational  church,  a  practical  and  pronounced 
temperance  man,  a  just  and  worthy  Mason,  having  attained 
to  the  Thirty-second  degree  of  the  Scottish  Rite.  In  his 
pleasant  home  on  Concord  street  he  enjoys  the  just  reward 
and  rest  of  an  honorable  and  busy  life.  Thus  equipped,  he 
was  in  November,  1896,  elected  Governor  of  his  state, 
serving  with  conscientious  singleness  of  purpose  and  excel 
lent  results. 

Governor  Ramsdell  is  careful,  considerate,  conservative, 
and  yet  a  quick  observer  of  public  events,  ready  to  meet 
the  exigencies  of  state  as  they  arise  with  wise  delibera 
tion. 

It  must  stand  as  a  great  credit  to  the  state  and  its  chief 
magistrate,  that  in  the  spring  of  the  present  year  he  raised 
so  speedily  and  equipped  so  thoroughly,  the  admirable 
regiment  now  sustaining  the  honor  of  New  Hampshire  in 
the  field,  a  regiment  that  we  of  the  "old  regime"  gladly 


40         SEVENTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE   REGIMENT. 

welcome  to  comradeship,  and  the  New  Hampshire  roll  of 
honor  begun  at  Louisburg  and  Bunker  Hill  and  lengthened 
in  every  recurring  war. 

The  expedition,  wise  forethought,  and  experienced  care 
exercised  by  Governor  Ramsdell  in  organizing  and  forward 
ing  the  First  New  Hampshire  Infantry  in  May,  1898,  is 
well  set  forth  in  the  following  telegram  sent  the  governor 
and  given  to  the  press,  by  Senator  Chandler : 

"WASHINGTON,  May  23,  1898. 

The  president,  secretary  of  war,  and  adjutant-general  express  them 
selves  as  highly  gratified  that  the  New  Hampshire  regiment — 250  more 
than  our  quota — has  come  so  promptly  into  the  field,  completely 
equipped  in  all  particulars  for  immediate  service. 

"  The  people  of  New  Hampshire  may  well  be  proud  of  the  good  and 
quick  work  done  by  their  governor  and  council,  adjutant-general,  and 
other  military  authorities,  and  may  feel  sure  that  their  first  Cuban  regi 
ment  will  continue  to  do  honor  to  the  state. 

"Accept  my  personal  thanks  and  gratitude  for  the  good  judgment, 
rapidity,  and  success  with  which  you  have  in  behalf  of  the  state  met 
the  first  demands  of  the  war  for  Cuban  freedom." 


CHAPTER   VII. 
FIELD  AND  STAFF  OF  THE  SEVENTEENTH. 

The  riches  of  the  Commonwealth 

Are  free,  strong  minds,  and  hearts  of  health  : 

And  more  to  her  than  gold  or  grain, 

The  cunning  hand  and  cultured  brain. 

Whittier. 

The  field  and  staff  officers  of  the  Seventeenth  New 
Hampshire  Infantry  were  :  Colonel,  Henry  O.  Kent  of  Lan 
caster;  lieutenant-colonel,  Charles  H.  Long  of  Claremont ; 
major,  George  H.  Bellows  of  Walpole ;  adjutant,  George  A. 
Wainwright  of  Hanover;  quartermaster,  Edward  N.  Cum- 
mings  of  Colebrook ;  surgeon,  James  D.  Folsom,  M.  D.,  of 
Lancaster;  assistant  surgeons,  Luther  C.  Bean,  M.  D.,  of 
Lebanon,  and  Horatio  N.  Small,  M.  D.,  of  Lancaster; 
chaplain,  Rev.  George  S.  Barnes  of  Seabrook.  All  were 
selected  upon  the  plan  that  had  been  agreed  to  for  recruit 
ing  the  regimental  quota  in  the  third  congressional  district, 
save  the  chaplain,  who  was  appointed  as  a  personal  selec 
tion  of  the  governor's.  It  is  noticeable,  also,  that  the  four 
counties  in  this  district  were  represented  by  the  four  offi 
cers  first  named:  Colonel  Kent  was  from  Coos;  Lieuten 
ant-Colonel  Long  from  Sullivan ;  Major  Bellows  from 
Cheshire,  and  Adjutant  Wainwright  from  Grafton. 

Colonel  Kent's  appointment  as  commander  of  the  regi 
ment  to  be  raised  in  the  Third  Congressional  District,  was 
preeminently  wise,  judicious,  and  deserving.  It  elicited 
unexpected  enthusiasm  throughout  the  district,  and  resulted 
in  more  speedy  and  general  enlistments  than  had  been 
thought  possible.  Although  a  comparatively  young  man, 


42         SEVENTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE    REGIMENT. 

at  the  time  but  twenty-eight  years  of  age,  he  had  acquired 
a  large  and  valuable  experience  as  assistant  adjutant-gen 
eral  of  New  Hampshire  under  Governor  Ichabod  Good 
win.  At  a  still  earlier  period,  in  1852,  he  was  prepared 
for  and  entered  upon  a  full  collegiate  and  military  course, 
in  that  nursery  of  warlike  heroes  and  commanders,  whose 
record  stands  only  second  to  that  of  West  Point,  the 
famous  Norwich  University  of  Vermont.  From  this  insti 
tution  he  graduated  with  commendable  honors  in  1854, 
and  shortly  after,  the  faculty  as  a  recognition  of  his  worth 
and  their  own  appreciation  of  his  ability,  elected  him  a 
member  of  its  board  of  trustees.  This  position  he  has 
ever  since  held,  and  for  many  years  was  president  of  the 
Alumni  association.  As  early  as  1851,  as  shown  by  the 
records  in  the  adjutant-general's  office,  he  was  an  active 
member  of  New  Hampshire's  organized  militia  and  had 
risen  to  be  a  corporal  of  artillery  in  the  Forty-Second 
Regiment.  From  this  as  a  starting  point,  his  military 
career  appears  to  have  been  ever  advancing  until  he  was 
commissioned  colonel  of  the  famous  Governor's  Horse 
Guards,  organized  for  special  duty  as  a  body-guard  to 
his  excellency  the  governor,  composed  of  leading  men 
throughout  the  state.  He  was  also  acting  as  chief  of  staff 
to  the  major-general  commanding  one  of  the  state  divi 
sions. 

On  the  day  Governor  Goodwin  issued  his  first  proclama 
tion,  April  1 6,  1 86 1,  he  ordered  Colonel  Kent  to  report  in 
Concord,  and  upon  his  arrival  assigned  him  to  duty  as 
aide-de-camp  in  the  organization  and  equipment  of  the  First 
New  Hampshire  Regiment.  It  should  here  be  recorded 
that  on  that  eventful  i6th  of  April,  1861,  Colonel  Kent 
opened  one  of  the  first  recruiting  offices  in  the  state,  in  his 
native  town  of  Lancaster,  and  there  within  a  few  days  an 
entire  company  had  been  raised  and  made  ready  for 
muster.  But  immediate  supervision  of  the  recruiting  ser- 


FIELD   AND   STAFF  OF   THE   SEVENTEENTH.  43 

vice  was  abandoned  in  response  to  the  governor's  more 
imperative  orders,  and  after  completing  his  duties  con 
nected  with  the  formation  and  equipment  of  the  First  Regi 
ment,  on  the  29th  day  of  April  he  was  commissioned 
assistant  adjutant-general  of  New  Hampshire,  with  the  rank 
of  colonel,  and  ordered  to  repair  to  Portsmouth  and  there 
assist  in  the  organization  and  equipment  of  the  Second 
New  Hampshire  Infantry,  to  rendezvous  at  that  point. 
Colonel  Martin  A.  Haynes,  in  his  excellent  history  of  the 
heroic  Second,  says: 

"  The  state  equipped  the  Second  Regiment  (as  it  also  had  the  First) 
in  the  most  thorough  and  comprehensive  manner,  according  to  the 
military  standard  of  the  day,  and  the  completeness  of  its  outfit  attracted 
the  admiring  attention  of  old  army  officers.11 

Although  these  two  regiments  were  the  first  to  leave  the 
state,  and  their  hurried  departure  was  forced  in  every  way 
to  meet  the  existing  demands  of  the  government,  every 
detail  in  their  organization  had  been  so  carefully  provided 
for,  and  all  requirements,  for  every  department,  had  been 
so  faithfully  and  fully  met,  they  were  honestly  entitled  to 
the  "admiring  attention"  bestowed  upon  them  by  "  old 
army  officers ;  "  and  they  became  the  models  for  the 
formation  of  future  regiments  in  New  Hampshire.  To 
Colonel  Kent  was  due  credit  for  the  thorough  organization 
and  equipment  of  these  troops.  Strict  attention  to  the 
minutest  detail  was  ever  a  strong  point  in  his  character. 
He  took  nothing  for  granted,  but  ever  observed  the  Puritan 
maxim,  to  "do  in  the  most  thorough  manner  the  thing 
that  was  next  to  be  clone."  It  is  a  circumstance  to  be 
remembered,  that  with  this  Second  Regiment,  to  which 
Colonel  Kent  was  so  devoted,  and  in  whose  organization  he 
bore  so  conspicuous  a  part,  the  Seventeenth,  his  own  com 
mand,  was  consolidated,  when  consolidation  became  a 
necessity  later  on  in  the  progress  of  the  war. 


44         SEVENTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE   REGIMENT. 

After  completing  his  duties  in  connection  with  the 
Second  Regiment,  and  until  appointed  colonel  of  the 
Seventeenth,  he  was  actively  employed  in  the  editorial 
supervision  of  his  newspaper,  the  Cods  Republican ;  in 
the  enlistment  of  additional  troops,  and  as  a  representative 
from  Lancaster  to  the  general  court.  From  his  knowledge 
and  experience  he  was  made  chairman  of  the  committee  on 
military  affairs,  a  most  important  and  exacting  position, 
which  required  the  closest  and  most  careful  attention. 
The  old  militia  laws  were  at  this  session  repealed,  and  an 
entirely  new  military  system,  drawn  up  and  revised  by  the 
chairman  of  the  military  committee,  was  adopted. 

Commanding  in  appearance,  possessing  a  thorough  mili 
tary  education  gained  through  exacting  study,  close  obser 
vation,  and  long  experience ;  with  an  untarnished  reputa 
tion  for  strict  honesty,  integrity,  and  patriotism,  reaching 
backwards  in  an  unbroken  line,  through  generations  of 
honored  ancestors,  Colonel  Kent  was  in  every  way  fitted 
for  the  position  to  which  Governor  Berry  assigned  him ; 
and  his  labors  and  persistency  in  working  for  his  regiment, 
and  obtaining  for  it  at  last  that  recognition  from  the  gen 
eral  government  which  the  patriotism  and  devotion  of  its 
men  and  officers  so  fully  merited,  is  but  another  exhibition 
of  the  man,  and  an  exemplification  of  there  being  "  the 
right  man  in  the  right  place." 

In  later  years  Colonel  Kent  has  been  much  in  public 
life.  He  was  an  alternate  delegate  to  the  National  Con 
vention  which  nominated  Abraham  Lincoln  in  1860,  and 
in  1864  a  member  of  the  New  Hampshire  Electoral  Col 
lege,  voting  for  Lincoln  and  Johnson.  Again,  twenty 
years  later,  in  1884,  he  was  a  delegate-at-large  to  the 
National  Convention  which  nominated  Grover  Cleveland, 
moving  his  nomination  in  a  remembered  speech  and  voting 
for  him.  For  one  term  he  was  postmaster  of  the  United 
States  senate,  afterwards  naval  officer  in  the  Port  of 


FIELD   AND  STAFF  OF   THE   SEVENTEENTH.  45 

Boston,  and  has  been  repeatedly  in  the  legislature,  both 
senate  and  house.  He  has  always  occupied  a  prominent 
position  in  the  banking  circles  of  the  state,  and  to  the 
banking  business  he  now  chiefly  devotes  his  time.  On  the 
incoming  of  the  second  Cleveland  administration  he  was 
invited  to  the  position  of  assistant  secretary  of  war. 


CHAPTER    VIII. 
FIELD  AND  STAFF. —  Continued. 

I  venerate  the  man  whose  heart  is  warm, 

Whose  hands  are  pure,  whose  doctrine  and  whose  life 

Coincident,  exhibit  lucid  proof 

That  he  is  honest  in  the  sacred  cause. 

Cowper. 

Lieutenant-Colonel  Charles  H.  Long  was  also  a  graduate 
of  the  famous  Norwich  University,  and  received  therein  the 
military  education  and  drill  which  fitted  him  so  well  for  the 
stern  duties  of  after  life.  When  Colonel  Cross  organized 
the  "  Fighting  Fifth"  in  October,  1861,  Colonel  Long  was 
commissioned  captain  of  Company  G,  and  went  to  the 
front  with  that  regiment.  Its  after  deeds  are  matters  of 
history.  Says  an  able  commentator  : 

"  As  with  the  Second,  so  with  the  Fifth,  the  limits  of  a  chapter 
would  utterly  fail  to  give  its  history.  It  furnished  gallant  officers  for 
later  regiments,  received  many  recruits,  and  was  always  conspicuous 
for  its  bravery  and  heroic  work.  It  was  in  the  Peninsular,  Maryland, 
Pennsylvania,  and  Virginia  Campaigns  ;  and  its  colonel  made  the  proud 
boast  to  the  writer,  that  in  the  disastrous  charge  at  Fredericksburg, 
his  dead  lay  nearer  the  enemy's  rifle-pits  than  those  of  any  other  regi 
ment  in  the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  While  a  veteran  of  the  Fifth 
remains,  its  deeds  of  daring,  its  amateur  engineering,  its  marches,  and 
its  conflicts  will  be  as  fresh  in  their  memories  as  the  rollicking  strains 
of  '  One-Eyed  Riley  ! '  and  their  services  will  have  the  appreciation  that 
follows  honest  endeavor." 

It  is  a  part  of  the  record  in  the  War  department  that  the 
maximum  loss  in  killed  was  greater  in  the  Fifth  New 
Hampshire  than  in  any  other  regiment  in  the  army. 

While  leading   his   company  at  the   Battle   of  Antietam, 


FIELD   AND  STAFF  OF   THE   SEVENTEENTH.  47 

Captain  Long  was  severely  wounded  and  in  consequence 
resigned  his  command  ;  but  he  took  service  again  as  Lieu 
tenant-Colonel  of  the  Seventeenth,  and  was  esteemed  and 
respected,  both  as  a  soldier  and  a  genial,  good-hearted 
gentleman.  He  afterwards  commanded  the  heavy  artillery  ; 
was  ordered  into  the  defenses  around  Washington,  and 
remained  in  service  until  the  close  of  the  war.  Colonel 
Kent  says  of  him  : 

"  I  could  have  had  no  one  in  his  position  more  gratifying  to  my 
feelings,  or  who  on  every  occasion  demeaned  himself  with  more 
scrupulous  kindness  and  ability.'1 

The  major,  George  H.  Bellows,  came  from  Walpole. 
He  had  already  served  as  a  lieutenant  in  the  three  months' 
campaign  of  the  Eighth  New  York  Volunteers,  and  as  an 
aide  to  acting  Brigadier-General  Miles  at  Harper's  Ferry. 
After  leaving  the  Seventeenth,  he  was  commissioned  major 
of  a  battalion  of  infantry  raised  for  service  in  that  section 
of  Virginia  near  Washington,  under  control  of  the  Union 
forces,  wherein  the  state  government  exercised  authority. 

Adjutant  George  A.  Wainwright  was  first  of  all  a  soldier; 
he  was  every  inch  inclined  that  way,  from  the  crown  of  his 
head  to  the  sole  of  his  foot.  No  adjutant  ever  understood 
his  duties  better  and  none  ever  performed  them  more  punc 
tiliously  or  with  a  stricter  regard  for  duty.  Everything 
that  the  adjutant  had  to  do  was  well  done  and  done  in  a 
soldierly  manner.  When  off  duty  he  was  ever  a  delightful 
companion  and  a  sympathetic  friend,  but  in  his  "  official 
capacity"  he  was  pre-eminently  a  soldier.  He  had  already 
served  in  two  campaigns  and  afterwards  joined  Colonel 
Long's  heavy  artillery  as  lieutenant  and  was  speedily 
promoted  to  major. 

"  I  was  particularly  fortunate,"  writes  Colonel  Kent  in 
one  of  his  sketches  made  twenty  years  ago,  "  in  the  organi 
zation  of  the  staff.  Doctor  James  D.  Folsom,  the  surgeon, 


48         SEVENTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE   KEGIMENT. 

was  a  gentleman  of  agreeable  address,  great  experience, 
and  sound  information."  "  Of  agreeable  address,"  not 
only  to  the  colonel  and  his  officers,  but  equally  so  to  the 
poorest  private  or  the  most  pitiable  invalid  of  any  sort  that 
required  his  attention,  or  was  met  with  in  his  visitations. 
His  cheerful  manner  and  pleasant  words  appeared  to  be  as 
efficacious  as  his  medicines,  and  the  boys  liked  them  ever 
so  much  better.  "  Experience,"  too,  he  had  in  a  large 
degree;  and  this,  coupled  with  his  "  sound  information," 
led  every  one  from  colonel  down  to  feel  that  they  were  in 
the  best  of  hands  when  sickness  or  bodily  injury  came,  if 
only  Folsom  was  there  to  look  after  them.  The  doctor  is 
still  in  active  practice  in  St.  Johnsbury,  Vermont.  May 
he  live  long  and  prosper ! 

Doctor  Luther  C.  Bean  of  Lebanon  left  a  lucrative  prac 
tice  which  fully  occupied  his  experienced  attention  to  accept 
the  staff  position  of  first  assistant  surgeon,  and  all  who 
came  to  know  him  well,  were  glad  that  he  accepted,  and 
felt  the  safer  because  "  Bean  was  in  camp."  He  was  a 
thoroughly  good  man,  an  honor  to  his  profession,  and  a 
most  acceptable  and  valuable  addition  to  the  medical  staff 
of  the  regiment. 

Doctor  Horatio  N.  Small,  second  assistant  surgeon,  had 
but  recently  graduated  from  the  Medical  School  of  Dart 
mouth  College,  and  brought  with  him  a  warm  commenda 
tion  for  the  position  from  the  faculty.  He  was  a  faithful 
and  conscientious  worker  and  gained  the  good  will  and 
esteem  of  all  with  whom  he  came  in  contact.  After  the 
consolidation  of  the  Seventeenth,  Doctor  Small  served  as 
assistant  surgeon  of  the  Thirteenth  New  Hampshire  Infan 
try,  and  was  thence  promoted  to  be  surgeon  of  the  Tenth. 
When  the  war  closed  he  settled  in  Portland,  Maine,  and 
became  one  of  the  most  successful  practitioners  of  that  city. 
His  death  was  widely  lamented  and  he  left  behind  a  large 
circle  of  appreciative  friends. 


FIELD   AND   STAFF  OF   THE  SEVENTEENTH.  49 

"  Chaplain  Barnes,"  as  he  was  known  throughout  the 
camp,  was  an  earnest  and  zealous  friend  and  an  estimable 
man.  Conscious  of  the  heavy  responsibilities  involved  in 
the  sacred  office  allotted  him  he  was  most  faithful  in  the 
discharge  of  every  duty  and  proved  himself  on  all  occasions 
to  be  indeed  the  "  soldier's  friend." 

Quartermaster  Edward  N.  Cummings  was  a  typical  New 
Englander,  from  under  the  shadow  of  old  Monadnock.  He 
never  flinched  in  the  performance  of  a  duty ;  he  never  left 
a  duty  undone ;  and  neither  fear  nor  favor  could  swerve 
him  one  iota  from  that  course  which,  his  mind  once  made 
up,  he  decided  was  the  right  one  to  pursue.  As  is  gener 
ally  the  case  with  men  of  strong  wills,  he  was  universally 
esteemed  in  the  regiment  and  was  a  most  efficient  quarter 
master.  He  now  resides  in  Lynn,  Mass. 

We  again  quote  from  an  old  manuscript  of  Colonel 
Kent's  in  writing  of  his  staff : 

"  Never    was    a    colonel    better    supported,    and    no    incident    ever 
occurred  during  our  prolonged  and  uncertain  stay  in  camp  to  mar  the 
warm  attachment  that  subsisted  between  us." 
4 


CHAPTER  IX. 
ENLISTMENTS. 

Our  hardy  sons  who  till  the  earth, 

Undaunted  still,  will  danger  face  ; 
The  land  that  gave  our  fathers  birth, 

Will  never  bear  a  coward  race. 

Haven. 

Senator  Proctor  of  Vermont  from  the  Committee  on 
Military  Affairs  in  his  report  to  the  senate,  concerning  the 
status  of  the  Seventeenth  New  Hampshire  Infantry,  says : 

"  The  field  officers  were  appointed  by  the  governor  of  the  state  for 
each  regiment,  with  the  understanding  that  the  recruits  enlisted  in  the 
three  districts  were  to  belong  to  the  Fifteenth,  Sixteenth,  and  Seven 
teenth  regiments  of  New  Hampshire  Volunteers,  respectively.  Under 
this  arrangement  there  were  enlisted,  as  shown  by  the  report  of  the 
adjutant-general  of  the  state,  seven  hundred  and  ninety-one  men  from 
the  third  district  who  belonged  by  the  assignment  referred  to  in 
Colonel  Kent's  command." 

Governor  Berry  in  an  official  report  already  quoted  from, 
fully  corroborates  the  statement  of  Senator  Proctor. 

To  understand  the  further  history  of  this  regiment,  the 
fact  that  the  enlistments  in  the  Third  Congressional  District 
were  to  be  exclusively  for  the  Seventeenth  Regiment  must 
be  carefully  borne  in  mind.  There  was  never  any  doubt 
about  it.  With  all  the  papers  before  him,  Senator  Proctor 
so  stated  in  congress ;  Governor  Berry  so  ordered  the 
organization  of  the  regiment  at  the  outset,  and  afterwards 
confirmed  this  understanding  in  a  written  statement  made 
to  congress.  It  was  also  distinctly  understood  throughout 
the  district  by  the  recruiting  officers  who  enlisted  the  men, 
and  by  the  men  who  were  enlisted.  They  were  enlisted 
to  join  the  Seventeenth  Regiment. 


ENLISTMENTS.  51 

Immediately  upon  the  appointment  of  field  officers, 
recruiting  stations  were  opened  in  various  towns  of  the 
Third  Congressional  District  and  every  exertion  made  to  fill 
the  ranks  as  speedily  as  possible.  The  following  is  a  copy 
of  the  poster  sent  out  by  the  Lancaster  agency,  and  similar 
ones  were  used  at  other  stations : 

"  HIGHLANDERS   SHOULDER  TO  SHOULDER." 

i/TH    REGIMENT. 
NINE  MONTHS'  SERVICE. 

The  undersigned  are  authorized  to  raise  a  company  of  Volunteers  in 
the  County  of  Coos  for  Nine  Months'  Service  in  the  ijth  Regiment — 
Colonel  Henry  O.  Kent. 

TOWN  BOUNTIES  $50,  $75,  and  $100  are  paid  to  the  Recruit  upon 
being  mustered  into  service. 

STATE  AID  TO  FAMILIES  is  also  guaranteed. 

By  special  authority  Recruits  will  be  enlisted  in  the  town  of  Lancas 
ter  and  the  surrounding  towns,  for  a  limited  time. 

COME  IN   OUT   OF   THE  DRAFT, 

which  will  not  be  postponed  if  the  town  quotas  are  not  filled. 

The  1 7th  will  soon  go  into  camp  at  Concord  and  be  fitted  out  in 
complete  style,  as  in  the  regular  service. 

Office  in  Lancaster  at  the  counting-room  of  J.  I.  Williams. 
DRAFTING  WILL  COMMENCE  THE  27™  INST. 

JARED  I.  WILLIAMS, 
JAMES  S.  BRACKETT. 
LANCASTER,  October  18,  1862. 

The  general  outlook  at  this  time  was  far  from  reassuring. 
Volunteering  had  nearly  ceased ;  the  events  of  '62  were 
not  encouraging — Malvern  Hill,  Fair  Oaks,  and  the 
advance  on  Richmond ;  the  administration  was  being 
severely  criticised,  and  the  fall  elections  were  not  favorable. 
People  were  feeling  the  burden  and  pressure  of  the  war. 
A  draft  in  our  own  state,  it  was  thought,  would  be  necessary 
to  fill  its  quota,  and  the  governor  had  even  gone  so  far  as 
to  arrange  for  its  being  made  in  October.  No  other  regi- 


52         SEVENTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE   REGIMENT. 

ments  were  called  into  camp  under  such  depressing  circum 
stances.  But  the  honor  and  patriotic  spirit  of  the  old  Third 
district  were  at  stake.  It  had  been  asked  to  raise  a  regi 
ment all  its  own.  Field  officers  from  its  own  territory 

had  been  assigned,  and  they  were  men  in  whom  the  people 
had  confidence  and  who  they  knew  would  prove  worthy 
leaders  of  a  brave  and  gallant  regiment.  It  was  determined 
that  the  regiment  should  be  raised  !  For  these  men,  who 
thus  volunteered,  there  was  no  "  come  in  out  of  the  draft" 
argument  needed  ;  "  town  bounties  "  had  but  little  influence 
with  them.  There  was  at  once  manifested  an  esprit  du 
corps  that  nowhere  else  existed.  Officers  and  men  were 
knitted  together  in  a  common  bond.  They  were  all  neigh 
bors  and  friends  in  a  united  band  to  uphold  the  honor 
of  the  Granite  State  and  do  manfully  its  part  for  the  pres 
ervation  of  government. 

Recruiting  progressed  rapidly.  A  full  company  was 
raised  in  Lancaster,  although  the  quota  of  the  town  was 
much  more  than  full,  and  the  most  encouraging  reports 
were  received  from  other  stations  in  the  district.  The 
adjutant-general  in  his  report  says  : 

"  The  officers  and  men  enlisted  in  the  full  expectation  of  immediate 
service,  and  evinced  their  patriotism  by  responding  to  the  call  for 
volunteers.  The  records  of  this  office  show  that  after  its  officers  were 
commissioned  there  were  enlisted  for  it  seven  hundred  and  ninety-one 
men.1' 

It  was  the  decision  of  the  governor  that  the  regiments 
should  be  called  in  numerical  order.  Under  this  order  the 
Fifteenth  and  Sixteenth  went  into  camp  at  Concord  in 
October.  Meanwhile  the  officers  of  the  Seventeenth  were 
waiting  impatiently  the  governor's  call  for  them,  but 
it  did  not  come  until  November  iQth,  when  immediate 
orders  were  issued  to  rendezvous  at  Concord  without  delay. 
The  field  and  staff  were  early  on  the  ground.  Company 
A  of  Lancaster  with  full  ranks,  under  Captain  Jared  I.  Wil- 


ENLIS  TMENTS.  5  3 

liams,  reported  next  day.  Company  B,  Captain  Isaac  F. 
Jenness,  from  Portsmouth,  came  in  next  morning.  This 
company  while  outside  the  district,  by  the  special  request 
of  the  people  of  Portsmouth,  had  been  raised  for,  and  was 
permitted  to  join,  the  Seventeenth.  Company  C,  Captain 
Calvin  S.  Brown,  came  next  with  partially  filled  ranks. 

There  were  then  in  camp  two  hundred  and  twenty-six 
men  and  it  became  evident  that  the  efforts  of  the  officers 
and  men  of  the  Seventeenth  Infantry  to  be  first  in  the  field 
were  likely  to  result  from  circumstances  over  which  they 
had  no  control,  to  their  very  serious  disadvantage,  and  in 
possible  disaster  to  the  regimental  organization. 


CHAPTER    X. 
THE  SITUATION  REVIEWED. 

The  flesh  may  fail,  the  heart  may  faint, 
But  who  are  we  to  make  complaint  ? 

Whittier. 

While  from  first  to  last  the  adjutant-general's  record 
credits  791  men  enlisted  for  the  Seventeenth  Infantry,  there 
were  actually  enrolled  and  ready  for  service  the  moment 
the  organization  should  be  completed  over  900  men.  It 
was  stated  in  the  last  chapter  that  the  regiment  went  into 
camp  with  226  men.  Where  were  the  more  than  600  other 
volunteers  from  the  Third  District,  who  had  so  early  enlisted 
under  the  expressed  condition  that  they  should  be  incor 
porated  in  this  command?  We  again  quote  from  Senator 
Proctor's  report  as  chairman  of  the  committee  on  military 
affairs : 

"The  fifteenth  and  Sixteenth  regiments  assigned  to  the  First  and 
Second  districts,  not  being  filled,  by  reason  of  the  failure  of  some 
of  the  towns  to  raise  their  quotas,  and  there  being  great  pressure  for 
troops  in  the  field,  made  by  the  War  Department  upon  the  state 
authorities,  it  was  determined  by  the  latter  to  transfer  the  men  raised 
in  the  Third  district  for  Colonel  Kent's  regiment,  to  the  Fifteenth  and 
Sixteenth,  thereby  completing  those  regiments  and  hurrying  them  to 
the  front.  This  was  accordingly  done,  leaving  Colonel  Kent  with  but 
a  small  portion  of  his  men," 

Governor  Berry's  statement  of  this  transfer  of  the  Seven 
teenth's  volunteers  is  as  follows  : 

"The  Fifteenth  and  Sixteenth  regiments  being  in  camp,  but  not 
full,  by  reason  of  the  failures  of  some  towns  in  the  First  and  Second 
Congressional  districts  to  fill  their  quotas,  and  the  War  Department 


THE  SITUATION  REVIEWED.  55 

urging  haste  in  forwarding  regiments,  men  and  companies  from  the 
Third  Congressional  District  were  ordered  into  these  regiments,  the 
intention  being  to  supply  their  places  in  the  Seventeenth  by  filling  these 
quotas  for  that  regiment  at  a  later  day.  As  a  result  of  this  policy  the 
Fifteenth  and  Sixteenth  regiments  were  sent  to  the  front  early  in 
November,  1862.  The  Seventeenth  regiment  was  ordered  into  the 
barracks  vacated  by  them  during  the  same  month." 

Of  course  this  action  taken  by  Governor  Berry  under  the 
extreme  pressure  brought  to  bear  upon  him  from  the  War 
Department,  had  been  anticipated  by  the  officers  of  the 
Seventeenth,  and  vigorous  protests  had  been  made,  but  they 
were  met  with  the  reply  that  the  Fifteenth  and  Sixteenth 
regiments  being  already  in  camp,  and  the  demand  for 
troops  so  urgent,  it  was  absolutely  necessary  to  fill  these 
two  regiments  at  once  and  get  them  off  to  the  front ;  that 
it  was  impossible  to  do  this  unless  men  who  had  volun 
teered  from  the  Third  district  were  impressed,  and  that  the 
end  justified  the  means.  And  so,  irrespective  of  location, 
the  companies  first  raised  were  ordered  into  camp,  and 
mustered  at  once  into  the  Fifteenth  and  Sixteenth  regi 
ments,  until  over  600  men  from  the  Third  District  who 
belonged  to  and  were  enlisted  for  the  Seventeenth  had  been 
thus  taken  from  that  command  to  fill  the  ranks  of  other 
regiments  ! 

Had  the  governor  ordered  the  assembling  at  Concord  of 
the  three  nine  months'  regiments  at  one  and  the  same  time, 
it  is  evident  that  the  Seventeenth  would  have  been  first 
filled  to  the  maximum,  and  first  sent  to  the  front,  since 
under  such  an  order  the  men  enlisted  for  it  would  have  been 
properly  assigned,  and  the  energy  and  patriotism  of  officers 
and  privates  would  have  brooked  no  delay.  But,  owing  to 
his  decision  to  despatch  the  Fifteenth  and  Sixteenth  before 
the  Seventeenth  was  called,  the  results  already  chronicled 
were  a  necessary  consequence. 

Governor  Berry  was  a  patriotic,  diligent,  and  faithful 
executive.  His  chief  desire  was  to  subserve  the  public 


56         SEVENTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE   REGIMENT. 

good.  It  is  not  for  a  moment  to  be  supposed  that  in  his 
disposition  of  the  nine  months  troops  he  was  guided  by 
other  than  the  best  of  motives.  He  acted  from  a  sense  of 
duty ;  and  it  is  in  evidence  that  he  deeply  regretted  that 
apparent  exigency  of  the  times,  which  compelled  him  to 
deplete  the  ranks  of  the  Seventeenth  to  fill  up  those  of  the 
other  commands,  and,  by  so  doing,  to  contribute  more  im 
mediately  to  the  support  of  the  government  in  its  hour 
of  need. 

But  while  feeling  most  keenly  the  disappointment  and 
delay  thus  engendered,  there  was  found  no  place  for  com 
plaint  and  no  halting  in  the  patriotic  endeavor  to  get  to  the 
front.  It  was  a  matter  for  congratulation  that  the  Seven 
teenth  had  contributed  so  largely  to  the  early  exodus  of  the 
Fifteenth  and  Sixteenth.  They  were  both  good  regiments, 
and  both  did  good  service.  The  Seventeenth  had  ever  a 
more  than  brotherly  interest  in  their  action,  and  should 
receive  proper  credit  for  the  men  it  furnished  to  fill  their 
ranks.  And  all  honor  to  the  brave  men  who  were  thus, 
without  consent,  but  impelled  by  a  military  necessity,  trans 
ferred  from  the  regiment  of  their  own  district,  for  which 
they  had  been  enlisted.  They  proved  themselves,  as  was 
to  be  expected,  good  and  true  soldiers,  sinking  their  own 
disappointments,  and  cheerfully  submitting  to  the  inevi 
table,  in  the  patriotic  endeavor  to  give  their  best  services, 
wherever  needed  most,  to  the  defence  and  welfare  of  their 
country. 

Six  full  companies  were  formed  of  men  enlisted  in  the 
Third  district,  and  assigned  to  other  commands,  as  follows : 

TO   THE    FIFTEENTH    REGIMENT. 

Company  B. — Plymouth  and  vicinity,  in  Grafton  county, 
John  W.  Ela,  captain.  Recruited  by  Major  Henry  W.  Blair. 

Company  C. — Bath  and  vicinity,  in  Grafton  county. 
Moses  H.  Long,  captain. 


THE   SITUATION  REVIEWED.  57 

Company  F. — Canaan  and  vicinity,  in  Grafton  county, 
William  Gordon,  captain. 

TO    THE     SIXTEENTH    REGIMENT. 

Company  A. — Lebanon  and  vicinity,  in  Grafton  county, 
Elias  F.  Smith,  captain. 

Company  F. — Fitzwilliam  and  vicinity,  in  Cheshire 
county,  Charles  H.  Woods,  captain. 

Company  I. — Swanzey  and  vicinity,  in  Cheshire  county, 
David  Buffum,  2d,  captain. 

Thus  matters  rested  when  the  Seventeenth  was  called 
into  camp  on  the  iQth  day  of  November,  1862,  but  thus 
the  officers  had  no  intention  matters  should  remain,  if 
within  their  power  to  still  bring  about,  under  proper  action, 
a  complete  organization  with  a  full  complement  of  men. 
The  regiment  of  the  Third  District  had  been  made  an 
impossibility,  but  the  Seventeenth  New  Hampshire  Infantry 
was  an  undoubted,  phoenix-like  reality,  and  the  strongest 
assurances  came  from  the  executive  chamber  that  the 
quotas  still  due  from  the  Second  and  Third  districts  should 
be  immediately  filled,  and  the  men  thus  obtained  trans 
ferred  to  the  Seventeenth. 


CHAPTER  XI. 
CAMP  ETHAN  COLBY. 

"Americans  all,  to  the  end  of  time, 
And  the  old  flag  waves  on  high 
'Till  the  world  stands  back  with  bated  breath 
While  the  stars  and  stripes  go  by." 

If  all  the  men  enlisted  in  the  Third  Congressional  Dis 
trict  for  the  Seventeenth  Infantry  had  been  permitted  to 
join  that  command,  as  was  promised  them,  and  as  it  was 
clearly  supposed  they  would  do  when  their  enrollment  took 
place,  it  would  have  numbered  at  this  time  916  men,  or 
more  than  enough  to  authorize  an  immediate  muster  of  the 
field  officers  and  ensure  the  early  dispatch  of  the  regiment. 

But  in  spite  of  the  loss  of  nearly  seven  hundred  men 
transferred  to  other  organizations,  the  Seventeenth  with  a 
strong  nucleus  to  center  upon,  preserved  an  undaunted 
determination  to  surmount  every  obstacle,  and  with  the 
promised  assistance  from  the.  state  department  refill  its 
ranks  and  earn  a  deserved  success  in  the  service  for  which 
it  had  faithfully  volunteered. 

Orders  were  at  once  issued,  and  drill  and  military  disci 
pline  enforced.  The  American  flag  was  hoisted  with 
proper  honors  and  the  rendezvous  named  "  Camp  Ethan 
Colby,"  by  order  of  the  colonel  and  to  the  gratification  of 
the  men  assembled.  Ethan  Colby  was  an  honored  citizen 
of  Colebrook  in  the  northernmost  county  of  the  Third 
Congressional  District;  at  the  time  a  most  useful  and  ener 
getic  member  of  the  Governor's  Council  and  ever  a  good 
and  true  friend  of  the  regiment — its  officers  and  men.  It 
was  a  pleasure  to  all  concerned  thus  to  associate  his  name 


CAMP  ETHAN  COLBY.  59 

with  the  organization  in  which  his  personal  interest  was  so 
great,  and  it  can  be  truthfully  said  that  no  state  camp  was 
ever  formed  which  better  sustained  a  proud  record  for  dis 
cipline,  general  good  order  and  military  strictness. 

Company  A  was  commanded  by  Capt.  Jared  I.  Williams 
of  Lancaster,  a  gentleman  of  high  social  position,  an  earn 
est  patriot  and  a  painstaking  officer.  He  was  the  youngest 
son  of  Jared  W.  Williams,  a  former  honored  governor  of  the 
state.  He  graduated  from  Brown  University  in  the  class  of 
1854,  was  a  member  of  the  Coos  county  bar,  at  one  time 
editor  of  the  Cods  County  Democrat,  and  at  present  a  civil 
engineer  of  marked  ability.  No  man  ever  enjoyed  a  better 
and  more  deserved  reputation  among  his  fellow-citizens  for 
strict  integrity,  impartial  justice  and  strong  adhesion  to  hon 
est  convictions.  When  Company  A  arrived  in  Concord,  its 
formation  and  march  through  the  city  to  the  campgrounds 
were  watched  and  followed  by  an  old  army  officer  who  re 
marked  to  its  commander,  "  that  is  the  best  drilled  com 
pany  that  has  ever  gone  in  camp  in  New  Hampshire." 

First  Lieut.  James  S.  Brackett,  also  from  Lancaster,  was 
a  descendant  in  a  long  line  of  Revolutionary  heroes  and  pat 
riots,  a  man  of  extended  literary  research,  of  more  than 
ordinary  literary  ability,  and  of  great  personal  worth.  He 
is  at  present  by  the  united  action  of  the  Seventeenth's  vet 
eran  association,  secretary  of  the  Regimental  Association. 

Second  Lieut.  Joseph  Chase  was  a  warm  friend  and 
cheerful  companion.  He  had  an  inexhaustible  fund  of 
good  nature  and  an  honest  sympathy  for  those  in  trouble. 
Faithful  and  painstaking,  he  was  a  worthy  officer  in  a  good 
company,  and  his  early  death  was  deeply  regretted  by 
many  sincere  and  devoted  friends,  among  whom  must  be 
included  all  of  the  command  to  which  he  was  attached. 

Capt.  Isaac  F.  Jenness  of  Company  B  enlisted  as  a  pri 
vate  in  the  company  raised  by  the  citizens  of  Portsmouth 
for  this  regiment,  and  upon  its  organization  was  unani- 


60         SEVENTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE   REGIMENT. 

mously  elected  its  commander.  He  was  a  thorough  sol 
dier,  a  strict  disciplinarian,  and  would  have  proved  a  most 
efficient  officer  in  the  field  had  the  regiment  been  permitted 
to  go  to  the  front. 

Frank  D.  Webster  of  Portsmouth,  the  first  lieutenant  of 
Company  B,  was  a  gentleman  of  many  accomplishments 
and  fine  military  presence.  He  was  afterwards  appointed 
second  lieutenant  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps,  regu 
larly  promoted  therein  to  first  lieutenant  and  captain  ;  served 
on  the  United  States  ship  Lancaster,  and  retired  from  ser 
vice  April  ist,  1884.  He  now  resides  in  Philadelphia. 

Second  Lieut.  Ammi  B.  Farr  enlisted  as  a  private,  and 
was  promoted  by  the  vote  of  his  comrades  because  of  his 
soldierly  qualities.  He  had  previously  served  as  corporal 
in  the  Sixth  New  Hampshire  Infantry. 

Capt.  Calvin  S.  Brown  of  Company  C,  was  a  graduate  of 
Dartmouth  College,  of  good  executive  ability  and  a  pop 
ular  commander.  He  afterwards  joined  the  Dartmouth 
Cavalry,  consolidated  with  Company  B,  Seventh  squad 
ron,  Rhode  Island  Volunteer  Cavalry.  He  now  resides  in 
Washington. 

First  Lieut.  Charles  N.  Kent  of  Company  C,  was  edu 
cated  at  Norwich  Military  University,  and  for  the  past 
thirty  years  has  been  in  active  business  in  New  York  city. 
Second  Lieut.  Josiah  Bellows  was  a  son  of  the  Honorable 
Henry  A.  Bellows  of  Concord,  for  many  years  a  judge  on 
the  bench  of  the  Supreme  Court. 

It  has  been  our  endeavor  in  the  pages  preceding  to  fur 
nish  a  truthful  sketch  of  the  officers — field,  staff  and  line — 
in  this  regiment  to  which  we  were  all  so  loyal,  and  for 
which  we  hoped  so  much.  As  were  the  officers,  so  were 
the  men,  honest  patriots,  sterling  citizens,  good  neighbors, 
and  faithful  friends.  Who  can  wonder  at  their  disappoint 
ment  when  hastening  to  Concord  in  anticipation  of  a  speedy 
muster  with  full  ranks  and  then  an  early  departure  to  the 


CAMP  ETHAN  COLBY.  6 1 

front,  they  found  upon  their  arrival  but  the  skeleton  of  a 
regiment  and  that  seven  hundred  of  their  men  had  been 

o 

transferred  to  other  commands  !  And  who  that  does  not 
admire  the  indomitable  Yankee  pluck  and  patience  of  these 
men  in  thus  so  quietly  accepting  the  inevitable,  and  settling 
down  to  the  daily  round  of  camp  duty  and  drill,  buoyed 
up  by  official  assurance  that  their  ranks  should  be  again 
filled  by  volunteers  if  possible,  if  not  then  by  the  enforce 
ment  of  the  state  draft,  and  that  the  regiment  should  be 
speedily  placed  in  condition  for  active  service. 


CHAPTER  XII. 
GENERAL    ORDERS. 

"  Hear  ye  !  hear  ye  !  !  hear  ye  !  !  " 

The  first  general  order  issued  from  regimental  headquar 
ters  embodied  the  precepts  intended  for  camp  and  is  here 
reproduced  in  full : 

HEADQUARTERS  I/TH  N.  H.  REGIMENT, 

CONCORD,  Nov.  i8th,  1862. 
General  Order  No.  i . 

This  camp  is  hereby  named  "  Camp  Ethan  Colby  "  in  honor  of  Hon. 
Ethan  Colby  of  the  executive  council. 

In  assuming  command  of  the  regiment  the  colonel  takes  occasion  to 
remind  the  officers  and  men  that  the  enforcement  of  good  morals  and 
strict  discipline  are  alike  essential  for  the  public  good  and  beneficial  to 
the  men.  He  relies  upon  the  cordial  cooperation  of  the  men,  to  organ 
ize  and  maintain  a  regiment  of  soldiers  fitted  by  bodily  health  and 
emulous  attention  to  discipline  to  render  efficient  service. 

Hours  of  different  calls  will  be  immediately  announced,  and  the 
instruction  of  officers  and  privates  at  once  commenced. 

Public  religious  services,  conducted  by  the  chaplain  and  attended  by 
the  regiment,  will  be  observed  at  nine  and  one  half  o'clock  of  each 
Sabbath. 

No  spirituous  or  intoxicating  liquor,  except  for  medicinal  purposes 
as  prescribed  and  given  by  the  surgeon  will  be  allowed  within  the 
lines,  and  commanding  officers  finding  any  such,  contrary  to  this 
order,  will  destroy  the  same  or  turn  it  over  to  the  use  of  the  hospital. 

Mail  matter  will  be  received  and  distributed  by  the  chaplain  who  is 
hereby  constituted  regimental  postmaster. 

Squads  or  companies  of  recruits  arriving  will  immediately  report  to 
headquarters  and  be  assigned  position  in  the  barracks  by  the  quarter 
master,  who  will  report  daily  to  the  adjutant,  until  further  orders,  the 
condition  and  occupancy  of  such  barrack. 

While  full   companies  reporting    at   headquarters  will  be,  in  accord- 


GENERAL    ORDERS.  63 

ance  with  the  proclamation  of  the  commander-in-chief,  authorized  to 
designate  two  commissioned  officers  who,  if  qualified,  will  be  appointed, 
the  prevalence  of  petty  caucuses  to  select  officers  or  to  associate 
squads,  is  detrimental  to  discipline,  pernicious  in  its  effects,  and  con 
trary  to  army  regulations.  It  is,  therefore,  strictly  prohibited. 

The  inclinations  and  proper  desires  of  the  men  regarding  company 
organizations  will  be  duly  considered  on  application  at  headquarters. 

Companies  when  mustered  into  service  will  be  at  once  uniformed. 
The  company  letter,  when  announced,  and  the  regimental  number  will 
be  displayed  in  small  characters  on  the  lower  side  of  the  top  of  the 
cap.  All  other  devices  are  superfluous  and  prohibited.  Officers,  field, 
staff,  and  line,  will  provide  themselves  with  uniforms  and  outfits,  being 
reminded  to  use  conformity  in  every  particular. 

Passes  outside  the  line  will  not  be  granted  except  for  good  and  valid 
reasons,  nor  will  the  sentinels  pass  any  man  who  does  not  exhibit  a 
pass,  signed  by  his  company  commander  and  countersigned  by  the 
commanding  officer  of  the  regiment. 

Officers  will  pay  attention  to  the  health  of  the  men  and  encourage 
them  while  off  duty  in  all  proper  athletic  exercises. 

The  colonel,  in  closing,  assures  the  regiment  that  merit  is  and  will 
be  the  only  criterion  of  advancement ;  that  while  all  disobedience  of 
orders  will  be  promptly  noticed,  the  soldier  of  whatever  grade  who 
cheerfully  and  faithfully  performs  his  duties  will  be  remembered  at 
headquarters.  By  command  of 

HENRY  O.  KENT, 

Colonel. 
GEORGE  A.  WAINWRIGHT, 

Adjutant. 

"General  order  No.  2,"  giving  the  "  soldier's  time-table" 
from  reveille  to  taps,  was  issued  '  next  day,  and  strictly 
adhered  to  so  long  as  the  regiment  occupied  the  camp  : 

I7TH  N.  H.  REGIMENT, 
CAMP  ETHAN  COLBY, 

November  igth,  1862. 
General  Order  No.  2. 

Until  otherwise  ordered  calls  will  be  sounded  from  these  headquarters 
in  the  following  order  : 
Reveille,  6  a.  m. 
Breakfast,  7  a.  m. 
Police  call,  7  :3o  a.  m. 


64         SEVENTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE   REGIMENT. 

First  call  for  guard  mount,  7  :  45  a.  m. 

Guard  mount,  8  a.  m. 

Sick  call,  8  :  30  a.  m. 

Sergeant's  report,  9  a.  m. 

Officers1  drill,  9  :  30  to  10  :  30  a.  m. 

Company  drill,  10  :  30  to  i  i  :  30  a.  m. 

Dinner  call,  12  m. 

Officers  drill,  i  to  2  p.  m. 

Company  drill,  3  to  4  :  30  p.  m. 

Retreat,  5  p.  m. 

Tattoo,  8:55  p.  m. 

Taps,  9  p.  m. 

By  command  of 

HENRY  O.  KENT, 

Colonel. 
GEORGE  A.  \\~AIN\VRIGHT, 

Adjutant . 

The  regiment  was  fortunate  in  having  among  its  officers 
a  sufficient  number  of  excellent  clrillmasters  who  had  served 
a  long  time  in  this  capacity,  and  who  were  not  only  quite 
familiar  with  the  "  United  States  Army  Tactics,"  then  the 
recognized  authority,  but  also  by^  experience  had  learned 
how  to  properly  apply  them  in  the  instruction  of  both 
squad,  company,  battalion,  and  regiment.  As  a  natural 
consequence,  the  standard  of  military  precision  in  drill  was 
much  more  speedily  reached  than  is  usual  in  the  formation 
of  a  command  from  "  raw  material  "  and  it  became  known 
"  down  in  the  city"  that  the  Seventeenth  men  "  drilled  like 
veterans  !  "  So  much  had  been  accomplished  that  early  in 
January,  after  a  sufficient  number  of  experimental  drills,  full 
dress  parades  were  announced  in  the  following  general 

order : 

HEADQUARTERS  lyxn  REGIMENT, 

CAMP  ETHAN  Co LBV, 

January  13,  1863. 
General  Order  No.  6. 

Until  otherwise  ordered  there  will  be  a  dress  parade  daily  at  4  p.  m. 
The  attention  of  company  officers  is  directed  to  pages  337  and  348, 
Army  Regulations. 


GENERAL   ORDERS.  65 

They  will  see  that  the  arms  and  clothing  of  the  men  are  cleaned  in 
the  best  manner  possible  and  that  they  are  furnished  with  white  cotton 
gloves . 

Company  officers  will  personally  attend  to  the  inspection  of  their 
companies  when  the  first  call  sounds  at  3  =30  o'clock  p.  m.,  and  they 
will  be  held  responsible  for  the  cleanliness  and  general  appearance  of 
their  men.  After  forming,  the  companies  will  be  equalized  making  the 
number  in  each  company  nearly  equal. 

By  command  of 

HENRY  O.  KENT, 

Colonel. 
GEORGE  A.  WAIXWRIGHT, 

Adjutant . 

A  perusal  of  these  general  orders  coupled  with  the  assur 
ance  that  they  were  carried  out  in  minutest  detail  will  be 
convincing  proof  that  the  camp  was  by  no  means  idle  ;  and 
that  its  welfare  in  all  directions  was  carefully  regarded. 
The  "dress  parades  "  were  the  event  of  the  day.  Many 
people  came  from  Concord  to  witness  them  and  many  were 
the  praises  bestowed  upon  both  officers  and  men. 

These  men  here  had  their  only^  training  previous  to  the 
Battle  of  Gettysburg,  in  which  they  participated  as  a  part 
of  the  Second  New  Hampshire  ;  and,  says  Senator  Proctor, 
they  "  were  thanked  by  Colonel  Bailey,  for  the  disciplined 
valor  they  displayed  in  that  decisive  battle  of  the  war,  by 
a  regimental  order,  in  which  great  praise  was  bestowed 
upon  Colonel  Kent  and  his  officers  of  the  Seventeenth  for 
the  unusual  skill,  steadiness,  and  efficiency  of  their  deport 
ment  in  the  field." 


CHAPTER    XIII. 
THE  WINTER  OF  '62-63  ON  CONCORD  PLAINS. 

Should  auld  acquaintance  be  forgot 

And  never  brought  to  min'  ? 
Should  auld  acquaintance  be  forgot 

And  days  o'  lang  syne  ? 

Burns. 

Concord  Plains  would  hardly  be  selected  from  choice  as 
a  desirable  place  of  residence  during  the  usual  New  Eng 
land  winter.  The  barracks  erected  by  the  state  were  of 
rough  boards,  hastily  put  together,  with  now  and  then  a 
crack  of  considerable  magnitude,  that  neither  straw  nor 
mud  could  render  impervious  to  the  driving  snow  which  so 
often  fell,  or  the  violent  attacks  from  the  north  wind — an 
almost  daily  visitor.  But  the  Seventeenth  had  come  to 
camp  for  service,  and  this  winter  experience  was,  as  they 
supposed,  but  a  prelude  to  the  promised  filling  of  their 
ranks,  to  which  they  looked  forward  with  confidence,  and 
for  the  accomplishment  of  which  they  cheerfully  endured, 
and  made  the  best  of,  surrounding  circumstances.  The  bar 
racks  were  all  alike — no  one  had  been  builded  better  than 
another ;  and  it  was  not  unusual,  even  in  regimental  head 
quarters,  for  the  officers  to  find  in  the  morning  upon  awak 
ening  an  extra  coverlet  of  snow  supplementing  the  woolen 
blanket,  which  with  clean  straw  underneath  made  up  their 
beds.  It  was  not  a  long  ride  to  the  well-kept  "  Phenix," 
where  Steb  Dumas  was  ever  glad  to  accommodate  guests 
and  surround  them  with  every  comfort.  The  hospitable 
"  Eagle,"  too,  was  equally  available.  But  the  officers  of 
the  Seventeenth  were  always  in  quarters.  What  was  good 
enough  for  the  men  was  good  enough  for  them.  It  was 


WINTER   ON  CONCORD  PLAINS.  6j 

"  share  and  share  alike ;  "  and  there  were  no  requisitions 
upon  the  quartermaster  from  headquarters  that  were  not 
equally  available  for  each  one  of  the  company  barracks. 
Doubtless  all  this  had  a  good  effect  upon  the  regiment  as 
a  whole,  and  went  far  to  uphold  the  strict  military  disci 
pline  and  create  the  strong  bond  of  personal  interest 
among  all  ranks,  which  it  was  remarked  existed  to  a 
greater  degree  in  Camp  Ethan  Colby  than  in  any  other 
command  assembled  on  Concord  Plains. 

Special  Order  No.  15  is  an  illustration  of  the  maxim, 
41  To  do  in  the  most  thorough  manner  the  thing  that  is 
next  to  be  done,"  which  has  been  already  quoted  as  char 
acteristic  of  New  England  manhood  ;  which  has  ever  been 
characteristic  of  Colonel  Kent,  and  from  the  observance  of 
which  came  the  results  foreshadowed  in  his  regimental 
utterance  The  order  is  as  follows  : 

HEADQUARTERS  SEVENTEENTH  N.  H.  VOLUNTEERS, 

CAMP  ETHAN  COLBY,  CONCORD,  N.  H., 

January  25,  1863. 
Special  Order  No,  15. 

The  benefit  of  the  service  and  the  contentment  and  cheerfulness  of 
the  men  require  that  their  time  be  fully  occupied.  As  soldiers,  the 
time  of  the  officers  and  men  belongs  to  the  government,  and  no  more 
pernicious  results  can  happen  to  a  command  than  those  that  flow  from 
idleness  and  consequent  discontent. 

It  is  therefore  ordered  :  That  from  and  after  Monday,  January  26, 
1863,  the  following  rules  be  observed  without  the  slightest  deviation, 
on  penalty  of  such  punishment  as  may  be  awarded  by  court  martial, 
or  ordered  by  the  proper  regimental  authority  : 

i st.  All  soldiers  are  on  duty,  and  will  perform  all  duty  required  of 
them  unless  they  have  a  written  certificate  of  disability  from  the  sur 
geon,  and  unless  they  have  been  on  guard  during  the  previous  day,  in 
which  case  they  will  be  excused  from  all  but  police  duty  on  the  fore 
noon  following,  and  will  return  to  regular  duties  at  i  p.  m. 

2d.  A  detachment  will  be  ordered  to  prepare  at  least  one  dozen 
birch  brooms  for  sweeping  the  parade,  and  the  officer  of  the  day  will 
see  that  the  entire  parade,  company  parade,  and  grounds  about  the 
officers7  quarters  are  swept  and  the  refuse  carried  outside  the  lines. 


68        SEVENTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE   REGIMENT. 

3d.  All  wood  received  during  the  day  will  be  piled  up  each  morning 
in  its  appropriate  place  and  the  chips  gathered  together  and  burned  on 
the  guard  fires. 

4th.  The  arms  of  the  men  will  be  thoroughly  and  practically  in 
spected  by  the  company  officers  before  going  on  dress  parade,  and  any 
damage  to  the  arms  or  dirt  or  rust  upon  them  will  merit  punishment 
according  to  army  regulations  and  the  usages  of  the  service.  The  cloth 
ing  of  the  men  must  also  be  neatly  brushed  before  appearing  on  parade. 
All  deficiencies  will  be  reported,  and,  if  necessary,  a  further  inspection 
will  be  made  by  the  proper  officer  at  each  dress  parade. 

5th.  Company  drill  from  10  to  n  a.  m.  and  from  2  to  4  p.  m.  will 
be  observed  daily  on  the  parade  when  the  weather  will  permit,  and  in 
the  barracks,  in  the  manual,  when  the  weather  is  bad.  This  may  be 
varied  for  battalion  drill  at  the  discretion  of  the  officer  commanding 
the  camp,  and  these  drills  will  be  attended  by  every  man  not  excused 
by  paragraphs  of  this  order. 

'6th.  Before  drawing  in  the  guard  at  night  sentinels  will  be  posted 
inside  the  doors  of  the  barracks,  and  no  one  will  be  allowed  to  pass 
out  under  any  pretense  whatever  unless  accompanied  by  a  non-commis 
sioned  officer. 

The  colonel  commanding  joins  with  the  officers  and  men  in  a  desire 
to  make  the  history  of  the  Seventeenth  honorable  alike  to  the  state 
and  itself.  Nothing  but  a  close  attention  to  discipline  will  secure  this 
end.  He  acknowledges  the  general  good  behavior  of  the  men,  and 
confidently  expects,  in  the  execution  of  this  order,  that  he  will  have 
the  cordial  support  of  every  good  soldier  of  whatever  grade. 

Be  the  future  of  the  regiment  what  it  may,  it  must  never  be  said  that 
the  Seventeenth  New  Hampshire  Volunteers  consumed  any  period  of 
its  existence  in  inactivity,  or  that  the  uncertainties  which  surrounded  a 
part  of  its  career  made  its  members  forgetful  of  their  duties  as  gentle 
men  and  soldiers. 

Let  the  record  of  the  regiment,  while  it  remains  in  the  state,  be 
unsurpassed  for  soldierly  attention  and  progress,  by  that  of  any  which 
has  preceded  it.  Let  each  officer  and  soldier  unite  in  the  simple  per 
formance  of  duty,  and  then,  whether  as  a  regiment  on  the  battlefield 
or  as  a  band  of  citizens  and  friends  at  home,  we  shall  be  able  to  refer 
with  pride  to  our  common  connection  with  the  regiment. 

By  order  of 

HENRY  O.  KENT, 

Col.  \itli  N.  H.  Vols. 

GEO.  A.  WAINWRIGHT,  Adjutant. 


WINTER   ON  CONCORD   PLAINS.  69 

There  is  a  strong  intimation  in  this  order  of  a  fear  which 
was  becoming  prevalent,  that  after  all,  the  executive  de 
partment  might  find  itself  unable  to  redeem  its  promises 
to  furnish  the  number  of  men  still  required  for  insuring  reg 
imental  muster. 

Governor  Berry  had  announced  that  a  draft  would  cer 
tainly  be  enforced  agreeably  to  the  enactment  of  the  legis 
lature  of  1862,  and  towns  in  anticipation  thereof  were 
busily  engaged  in  procuring  their  equivalent  of  men. 
These  men  to  a  great  extent  were  procured  by  substitute 
brokers,  and  to  their  enlistment  the  governor  conceived  a 
hearty  opposition,  and,  in  fact,  peremptorally  forbade  it. 

But  there  still  remained  the  draft  which  it  was  decreed 
should  be  enforced  December  24,  1862.  It  was  post 
poned,  however,  when  that  day  came,  although  it  was  said 
the  postponement  was  temporary,  and  that  the  drafting 
would  and  must  of  necessity  take  place  in  the  very  near 
future. 


CHAPTER   XIV. 

THE  WINTER  OF  '62-63  ox  CONCORD  PLAINS.— 
Continued. 

"  Sech  orders  my  heart's  disappointin'. 

'T  was  n't  sech  as  inveigled  me  in. 
To  clap  my  mark  down  to  the  writin' 

The  recruiters  said  glories  would  win. 
O  !  when  fellers  is  gathered  for  fightin' 

Say,  why  can  't  the  scrimmage  begin  ?  " 

The  latch  string  was  always  out  at  headquarters.  Every 
man  knew  that  his  demands  of  whatever  nature  might  there 
be  made  known,  and  if  of  a  proper  character,  granted. 
The  officers  were  in  camp — regular  and  punctual  in  the 
observance  of  all  police  and  military  duty — thus  setting  the 
good  example  cheerfully  followed  by  every  private. 

The  chaplain  made  his  daily  rounds,  writing  letters, 
receiving  and  delivering  messages  with  a  cheerful  word  and 
friendly  counsel  for  all.  Sunday  services  were  held  regu 
larly  in  the  quartermaster's  barrack,  and  there  were  several 
other  services  during  the  week  all  well  attended  and  doubt 
less  productive  of  much  good.  A  fine  glee  club  had  been 
organized  which  gave  great  assistance  to  the  chaplain  as 
well  as  pleasure  to  the  men. 

The  selections  of  this  celebrated  club,  however,  were  not 
at  all  times  of  a  devotional  character;  most  of  them  had 
the  true  military  spirit,  and  in  some  the  devotional  and 
patriotic  were  well  combined.  The  "  Star  Spangled 
Banner "  always  evoked  a  thundering  chorus ;  "  We  '11 
Rally  'Round  the  Flag,  Boys  "  exhibited  undoubted  indica 
tions  of  an  intention  in  that  direction ;  and  while  John 


WINTER   ON  CONCORD   PLAINS.  71 

Brown's  body  was  left  to  moulder  in  the  grave,  his  soul 
was  kept  marching  on  to  a  ringing  accompaniment  that 
was  as  hearty  as  we  all  hoped  John  Brown's  future  state 
would  be  bright  and  happy.  There  \vas  one  song  by 
Private  Walter  Binney  of  Company  C  that  made  him  the 
champion  of  the  Glee  Club.  It  was  called  for  at  every 
gathering  and  often  repeated  in  response  to  hearty  encores. 
In  the  <l  Matinees"  at  headquarters,  to  which  the  men  in 
turn  were  regularly  invited,  Binney's  "  Mother  Magraw  " 
was  never  omitted.  When  Colonel  Cross  of  the  Fifth  New 
Hampshire  returned  home  because  severely  wounded  at 
the  Battle  of  Fredericksburg,  in  December,  1862,  he  came 
to  Camp  Ethan  Colby  to  meet  again  with  old  acquaint 
ances,  and  while  there  was  told  of  Binney's  musical  repute, 
especially  in  the  rendering  of  "  Mother  Magrawr."  It  so 
happened  that  this  song  was  a  favorite  of  the  colonel's,  and 
he  asked  that  Binney  be  sent  for  to  come  to  headquarters 
and  sing  it.  Of  course  the  request  was  complied  with,  and 
Binney  was  at  his  best..  The  following  is  a  literal  copy  of 
the  song : 

MOTHER  MAGRAW  AND  HER  SON. 
(Private  Binney^s  Song.) 

Av  Teddy  wad  'list,  the  Sarjent  said, 

A  captain  sure  he  'd  soon  be  made, 

VVid  a  big,  broad-sword,  and  a  fine  laced  hat, 

Whoop  !  Teddy,  my  child,  wad  n't  ye  like  that? 

Musha  too  ri  ru, — too  ri  ru 

Fal  de  du  ral,  laddy  musha  too  ri  ru. 

So  Teddy  he  for  a  sojer  wint 
And  Mother  Magraw,  she  did  repint 
That  they  ever  a  child  of  hers  should  coax 
To  go  with  them  donVd  murthering  folks . 
Musha  too  ri  ru,  etc. 

And  Teddy  he  fought  his  way  to  Spain, 
And  through  the  Ingees  and  back  again  ; 


72         SEVENTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE   REGIMENT. 

And  the  hundreds  and  thousands  that  he  killed, 
Sure  a  martial  volume  might  be  filled. 
Musha  too  ri  ru,  etc. 

But  Mother  Magraw  sat  watching  on  the  shore 

For  the  space  of  sivin  long  years  and  more, 

'Till  by  and  by,  she  saw  a  big  ship  come  sailing,  slap  bang  o'er  the 

says  ; 

Blood  and  thunder,  tare  and  oums,  filla  lu,  clear  the  ways  ! 
Musha  too  ri  ru,  etc. 

Then  Teddy  he  boulted  him  on  the  strand, 
And  Mother  Magraw  saized  him  by  the  hand  ; 
Sure  he  had  not  gone  but  a  stip  or  two, 
"  Faith  Teddy,  my  child,  this  can  't  be  you  !  v 
Musha  too  ri  ru,  etc. 

"  My  son  Teddy  was  strong  and  slim 
And  he  had  a  fut  for  every  limb, 
My  son  Teddy  was  straight  and  tall, 
Whoop  !  divil  damn  the  fut  have  ye  at  all !  " 
Musha  too  ri  ru,  etc. 

"  O,  was  ye  sick,  or  was  ye  blind 
Or  fhwat  the  divil  made  ye  lave  yer  legs  behind? 
Or  was  it  in  walking  o'er  the  says 
That  ye  wore  ye're  two  shins  off  to  yer  knaes  ?  " 
Musha  too  ri  ru,  etc, 

"A  martial  war  I  now  proclaim 

'Gainst  the  King  of  France  and  the  Ouane  of  Spain, 
And  I  '11  tache  them  for  iver  to  rue  that  time 
That  they  shot  away  the  shins  of  a  shield  of  mine  !  " 
Musha  too  ri  ru,  etc. 

Colonel  Cross  complimented  Binney  when  he  had 
finished,  and  exhibited  such  real  pleasure,  that  we  who 
knew  him  well  were  reminded  how,  at  an  earlier  day,  when 
his  own  regiment  was  forming  in  camp,  he  whistled  to  his 
band  the  tune  of  "  One  Eyed  Riley  "  and  thus  taught  them 
to  play  it.  It  became  the  regimental  tune  of  the  Fifth  to 
which  that  gallant  command  afterwards  marched  into  so 


WINTER    ON  CONCORD   PLAINS.  73 

many  battles,  where  their  dead  "  lay  nearer  the  enemy's 
rifle-pits  than  those  of  any  other  regiment."  It  is  said, 
however,  that  Governor  Berry  objected  to  the  tune  and 
approved  neither  of  the  whistle  nor  the  music. 

An  acquisition  to  headquarters  was  George  Saunders,  a 
colored  boy,  who  served  as  cook  and  master  of  ceremonies. 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Long  brought  him  from  Virginia,  and 
he  became  by  general  consent  the  regimental  "mascot." 
George  always  said  his 
prayers  in  a  most  devout 
manner  every  night  and 
morning,  thus  setting  a 
good  example  \v  h  i  c  h 
others  might  well  have 
followed.  He  believed  in 
a  negro  tradition,  that  the 
time  when  he  was  most 
exposed  to  the  assaults  of 
the  evil  one,  was  during 
the  interval  between  say 
ing  "Amen"  and  getting 
under  his  blanket.  And 
so  it  became  the  nightly 
custom  in  headquarters,  HB"%&Hitot  "^ 

where   he  slept,  to  watch  ^*m*^S*^&^    ^^f!^ 


for  the  "  amen     and  then 

,  GEORGE  SAUNDERS. 

for  the  one  spring  which 

always  placed  him  under  his  previously  arranged  blan 
ket, — "before,"  as  he  expressed  it,  "  de  clebble  could  ketch 
up  with  him."  George  was  a  good  boy,  but  he  had  a 
white  soul,  and  has  long  since  gone  to  the  home  where  all 
are  equal. 

A  favorite  rendezvous  was  the  quartermaster's  depart 
ment.  Cummings  always  had  a  good  fire  and  a  hearty 
welcome,  but  he  had  with  him,  too,  that  prince  of  good  fel- 


74         SEVENTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE    REGIMENT. 


lows,  jovial  companion,  and  true  friend,  Commissary  Ira  S. 
M.  Gove.  What  a  delightful  man  he  was  !  Always  cheer 
ful,  kindly  disposed  towards  every  one,  and  every  one  in  the 

regiment  was  his  friend. 
He  did  much  to  enliven 
and  brighten  the  long 
hours  of  that  dreary  win 
ter,  \vhen  every  one  was 
waiting,  and  when  noth 
ing  but  expectation,  and 
finally  disa ppointment 
came  to  relieve  the  wait 
ing  hours.  Ira  Gove  will 
long  be  associated  with 
bright  spots  in  the  regi 
ment's  history,  and  so 
long  as  a  veteran  remains 
will  be  remembered  with 
naught  but  kindness  and 
affection. 

The  quart  e  r  m  a  s  t  e  r '  s 
sergeant,  John  C.  Jenness, 
was  a  good  soldier,  thoroughly  acquainted  with  his  duties, 
and  faithful  in  discharging  them.  He  was  fertile  in  inven 
tions  for  killing  time,  and  many  a  pleasant  entertainment 
was  conceived  and  carried  on  by  him  which  gave  much 
pleasure  throughout  the  camp.  Jenness  afterward  became 
first  lieutenant  of  Company  I,  Heavy  Artillery.  At  the 
close  of  the  war  he  enlisted  in  the  2/th  Infantry,  U.  S.  A., 
was  appointed  in  succession  second  and  first  lieutenant,  and 
was  killed  August  2,  1867,  in  an  action  with  the  Indians  in 
Dakota. 

Upon  another  page  is  given  a  record  of  the  hospi 
tal  service  and  the  surgeons  in  charge,  but  no  record  of 
this  department  is  complete  which  fails  to  mention  him 


IRA  S.  M.  GOVE. 


WINTER    ON  CONCORD   PLAINS. 


75 


whose  name  is  already  on  the  lips  of  every  one  in  camp 
that  winter — the  faithful  hospital  steward,  Albro  L.  Robin 
son.  He  knew  how  to  "  minister  to  a  mind  diseased,"  as 
well  as  to  the  body,  and 
would  expel  discontent 
or  sorrow  by  a  few  kind 
words  as  effectually  as  he 
served  out  quinine  for  the 
ague  or  blue  pills  to  the 
patient  who  had  partaken 
overmuch  of  Elder  Hook's 
mince  pies.  He  died  in 
a  ripe  old  age,  loved  and 
esteemed  most  by  those 
who  knew  him  best. 

The  band  leader,  Al 
bert  F.  Whipple,  was  a 
thorough  master  of  his 
vocation.  Of  extended 
and  long  experience  in 
his  profession,  he  assem 
bled  and  drilled  in  music, 
a  band  which  reflected  great  credit  upon  himself  and  the 
regiment.  Its  members  were  :  Leader,  Albert  F.  Whipple, 
Lancaster;  sergeant,  Cyrus  E.  Burnham,  Littleton  ;  George 
H.  Watson,  Lancaster;  Charles  E.  Mclntire,  Lancaster; 
Sumner  Perkins,  Gorham ;  George  Dustin,  Berlin ;  Jo 
seph  Dustin,  Berlin;  Daniel  Bean,  Berlin;  Jesse  Tuttle, 
Berlin;  Henry  Lovejoy,  Littleton;  Sidney  T.  Bates,  Pel- 
ham.  This  band  afterwards  served  in  the  Second  New 
Hampshire,  and  no  corps  ever  left  the  state  with  a  better 
band  or  under  a  more  accomplished  leader. 

Each  company  was  fortunate  in  the  selection  of  its  non 
commissioned  officers.  First  Sergeant  Charles  E.  King  of 
Company  A,  Clarence  S.  Grey  of  Company  B,  and  John 


ALBRO   L.  ROBINSON. 


76         SEVENTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE   REGIMENT. 

G.  Derby  of  Company  C,  were  all  good  soldiers,  intelligent 
orderlies,  and  faithfully  performed  their  duties.  Then  there 
were  Sergeants  Ezra  B.  Bennett,  Charles  A.  Larkin,  Charles 
A.  Grant,  William  L.  Rowell,  George  Ham,  Christopher 
W.  Harrold,  Samuel  P.  Holt,  Hale  Chadwick,  and  a  host 
of  others.  How  many  shoulder  straps  would  have  been 
won  by  these  men,  had  promises  been  kept  and  chance 
for  promotion  been  given  them. 

The  sutler,  Frank  Smith,  knew  his  business  as  well  as 
the  commander-in-chief  knew  his  duties.  He  was  consid 
erate  of  "  the  boys,"  catered  to  their  wants,  was  liberal  in 
supplying  their  needs,  and  came  out  of  the  army  with  a 
good  reputation  and  no  scratches,  excepting  such  as  were 
marked  on  the  boards  of  his  own  shop  to  the  debit  of  an 
occasional  delinquent  soldier.  He  has  since  been  a 
respected  and  prosperous  citizen  in  Lancaster,  and  has 
served  his  town  in  local  offices  and  in  the  legislature. 

But  Elder  Hook's  "  refreshment  bureau"  on  the  brow  of 
the  hill  was  a  strong  rival  for  favor.  The  Elder  was  what 
the  boys  called  "hot  advent."  He  was  always  ready  to 
"exhort"  at  their  request,  and,  writes  one,  "while  he  was 
exhorting,  some  of  them  would  sneak  around  and  steal  his 
pies."  We  shall  hear  more  of  the  Elder  later  on. 

And  so  the  winter  wore  away ;  but  the  recruits  promised 
had  not  reported  for  duty,  and  the  draft  ordered  had  been 
again  postponed,  and  then,  as  reported,  finally  abandoned  ! 

There  was  one  unanimous  determination  in  the  regiment- 

o 

in  spite  of  all  obstacles,  to  get  to  the  front  in  some  way 
and  by  some  means.  It  was  not  believed  possible  that  the 
government  would  discourage  such  a  determination  ;  but 
that  when  the  facts  were  fully  presented,  the  way  would  be 
found,  and  the  means  provided.  Action  in  this  direction  was 
accordingly  commenced,  but  as  this  too  would  consume  time, 
it  was  decided  to  save  expense  meanwhile,  that  the  regiment 
should  be  furloughed  pending  the  result  of  further  efforts. 


CHAPTER    XV. 

FURLOUGHED. 

"  O  Sergeant,  it's  waiting  that  varies 
The  misery  that  hangs  on  me  so  !" 

December  24,  1862,  had  been  assigned  as  the  day  upon 
which  the  order  for  drafting  would  be  enforced,  but  it  was 
again  postponed  until  the  8th  of  January,  1863.  There 
was  to  be  no  further  delay,  however;  this  was  to  be  the 
final  day  for  which  the  final  order  would  be  issued,  and  on 
which  there  would  "positively  be  no  postponement."  But 
it  was  argued  so  strongly  against  the  draft  that  it  would 
result  in  ill  feeling,  and  endanger  the  peace  of  communities, 
and  that  further  action  on  the  part  of  the  board  would  here 
after  be  declared  illegal,  the  governor  changed  his  mind 
and  gave  out  officially,  December  31,  that  the  draft  would 
not  take  place.  During  January  other  plans  for  filling  the 
regiment  occupied  the  close  attention  of  the  governor  and 
officers  in  camp,  but  as  none  of  these  could  be  perfected 
before  early  spring,  Colonel  Kent  suggested  that  to  save 
expense  the  regiment  be  furloughed  until  April  i .  The 
suggestion  was  acted  upon,  as  shown  in  the  following  exe 
cutive  order : 

STATE  OF  NEW  HAMPSHIRE, 

ADJUTAXT-GEXERAL\S  OFFICE, 

CONCORD,  February  4,  1863. 
Special  Order  No.  i . 

The  Seventeenth  Regiment,  New  Hampshire  Volunteers,  now  en 
camped  at  Camp  Ethan  Colby  near  this  city,  is  hereby  furloughed  until 
Wednesday,  April  i,  1863,  unless  sooner  ordered  into  camp  by  the 
competent  authority 


78         SEVENTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE   REGIMENT. 

Colonel  Henry  O.  Kent,  commanding  said  regiment,  is  hereby 
charged  with  carrying  out  this  order,  and  will  issue  such  regulations  as 
he  may  receive  from  this  department,  or  may  deem  necessary  and 
proper  for  the  government  of  its  officers  and  men,  and  for  the  care  of 
the  public  property  during  such  time  of  furlough. 

By  order  of  His  Excellency, 

NATHANIEL  S.  BERRY, 
Governor  and  Commander -in- Chief . 
ANTHONY  COLBY,  Adjutant- General. 

Upon  receipt  of  this  announcement,  the  following  general 
order  was  issued  : 

HEADQUARTERS  17™  N.  H.  VOLUNTEERS, 

CAMP  ETHAN  COLBY,  Feb.  5,  1863. 
General  Order  No.  8. 

In  compliance  with  the  foregoing  order  of  His  Excellency,  the  Com- 
mander-in-Chief,  it  is  hereby  ordered  as  follows  : 

I.  After  Monday,   February  9,   and  until  further  orders,   the  head 
quarters  of  the  regiment  will  be  at  Lancaster. 

II.  Leaves  of  absence   to  officers  will   be   prepared  at  these  head 
quarters,  and  furloughs  prepared  by  the  commanders  of  companies  for 
all  men  on  the  rolls  of  the  companies   (not  reported  as  deserters)  from 
February  9,    1863,   to  April   i,  1863,  unless  sooner  ordered  to  camp. 
Furloughs  will  be  approved  at  these  headquarters. 

III.  During  said  time  of  furlough  the   headquarters  of  Company  A 
will  be  at  Lancaster ;  of  Company   B,   at  Portsmouth  ;  and  of  Com 
pany  C,  at  Seabrook. 

IV.  All  officers  will  report  in  person  or  by  letter  Monday  of  each 
week  to  the  colonel  commanding.     Company  officers  at  the  same  time 
will  report  the  condition  of  their  companies. 

V.  Privates  will  report  to  the  non-commissioned  officer  designated 
by  their  captain,  and  the  non-commissioned  officers  to  the  commanding 
officer  of  their  company  on  Saturday  of  each  week,  who  will  report  (as 
in  Paragraph  IV)  to  the  colonel  commanding. 

VI.  During   the    time  of  furlough,    the   band   will,    in  like  manner, 
report  to  Mr.  Whipple  at  Lancaster. 

VII.  The  surgeon  will  properly  pack  all  hospital  stores  and  see  that 
they  are  safely  stored  away. 

VIII.  Company  officers  may  return  to  the  quartermaster  all  ordnance 
and  stores  (not  necessarily  retained  by  the  men),  who  will  give  receipts 
for  them,  and  issue  again  on  the  return  of  the  companies. 


FURLOUGHED.  79 

IX.  The  quartermaster  will  see  that  the  barracks  are   put  in  good 
order,    and   closed,   and  that  all  public  property  is  gathered  together 
and  safely  stored  for  future  use. 

X.  Four  watchmen  will  be  detailed  by  special  order  to  guard  both 
sets  of  barracks,  and  \vill  receive  extra  pay  for  such  duty.     They  will 
be  under  the  control  and  direction  of  the  quartermaster,  or  any  other 
officer  designated. 

The  reputation  of  the  regiment  remains  in  the  care  of  the  men,  while 
absent,  the  same  as  here  in  camp.  It  is  hoped  that  each  and  every 
man  will  do  his  duty  towrard  himself  and  the  regiment,  and  in  every 
way  promote  its  welfare  and  increase  its  members  by  enlisting  good 
men.  Should  the  regiment  be  filled,  those  who  have  been  faithful  and 
conducted  themselves  as  soldiers  will  not  be  forgotten.  Their  conduct 
will  be  noticed  by  the  colonel  commanding,  who  is  disposed  to  do  all 
he  can  for  their  promotion. 

By  order, 

HEXRY  O.  KENT, 

Colonel  17 th  N.  H.  V. 
GEORGE  A.  WAINWRIGHT,  Adjutant. 

Governor  Berry  was  sanguine  that  upon  its  return  in 
April  the  regiment  would  be  speedily  filled,  and  gave 
assurances  that  it  should  be  done.  Decisive  measures 
were  to  be  taken  which  would  result  in  putting  the  com 
mand  in  active  service. 

It  was  with  mixed  feelings  of  happiness  and  disappoint 
ment  that  the  men  broke  camp  and  started  for  their  north 
ern  homes  at  a  time  when  they  had  hoped  to  be  well  at 
the  front  doing  manly  duty  in  the  service  of  their  country. 
They  were  glad  of  an  opportunity  to  revisit  once  more 
their  families  and  friends,  but  disappointed  and  discouraged 
that  the  "exigencies  of  the  service"  compelled  them  to 
still  act  the  part  of  non-resistants  as  well  as  non-combat 
ants,  and  that  so  many  obstacles  were  met  with  in  their 
faithful  and  persistent  endeavors  to  do  their  duty  like  men, 
and  acquit  themselves  as  many  of  them  afterwards  did, 
like  heroes. 

But  the  governor's  assurances  gave  some  comfort;  the 
anticipated  home-goings  were  looked  forward  to  with  pleas- 


80         SEVENTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE   REGIMENT. 

ure  ;  and,  although  the  third  district  had  been  depleted  of 
its  militia  competent  for  service,  it  was  hoped  by  individual 
effort  some  volunteers  might  nevertheless  be  obtained  to 
aid  in  the  governor's  plan  of  filling  the  ranks  and  complet 
ing  the  organization. 

During  the  period  covered  by  the  furlough,  officers  and 
men  of  the  different  companies  met  together  in  their  respec 
tive  towns  to  forward  regimental  interests  and  enjoy  social 
intercourse.  With  the  same  end  in  view  a  regimental  levee 
was  held  in  Lancaster,  to  which  all  were  invited  and  many 
came.  The  exercises  were  closed  by  a  ball  held  in  the 
Lancaster  House,  Tuesday  evening,  March  24,  The  floor 
managers  were  Captain  Jared  I.  Williams,  Lieutenant  Ira 
S.  M.  Gove,  and  Frank  Smith.  Chief  Musician  Albert  F. 
\Vhipple  directed  the  music,  assisted  by  a  detail  from  the 
regimental  band.  At  this  gathering  all  necessary  arrange 
ments  were  made  to  ensure  a  prompt  return  to  camp  on 
April  I,  and  the  proper  orders  were  issued. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 
RETURN  TO  CAMP  ETHAN  COLBY. 

In  the  cause  of  right  engaged 

Wrongs  injurious  to  redress, 
Honor's  war  we  strongly  waged 

But  the  Heavens  denied  success. 

Burns. 

April  ist,  1863,  the  regiment  reported  in  camp  for  duty. 
All  officers  of  the  field,  staff  and  line  were  present,  and 
when  the  company  rolls  were  called  for  the  first  time 
there  were  but  five  absentees. 

At  this  time  Governor  Berry  was  in  Washington,  and  on 
his  return  a  few  days  later  he  informed  Colonel  Kent  that 
the  secretary  of  war  had  ordered  the  consolidation  of  the 
Seventeenth  with  the  Second  Regiment.  This  news,  en 
tirely  unexpected  after  the  pledges  given,  came  like  a  thun 
derbolt  to  both  officers  and  men.  Bearing  in  mind  the 
constant  efforts  of  the  regiment  to  make  for  itself  a  record 
in  the  field  ;  the  agreement  supposed  to  be  binding,  under 
which  all  men  enlisted  in  the  Third  District  were  to  be 
mustered  into  this  command  ;  the  filling  of  the  regiment 
under  this  agreement;  the  withdrawal  of  nearly  seven  hun 
dred  men  to  make  good  deficient  quotas  in  towns  of  the 
First  and  Second  districts  which  were  to  have  made  the 
complement  of  the  Fifteenth  and  Sixteenth  regiments ;  the 
departure  of  these  regiments  with  full  ranks,  possible  only 
by  the  superior  efforts  and  zeal  of  the  Seventeenth  in  being 
first  to  fill  its  command  from  which  the  nearly  seven  hun 
dred  volunteers  were  taken  ;  the  subsequent  promises  and 
assurances  of  the  executive  department  that  the  regiment 


82         SEVENTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE   REGIMENT. 

should  be  cared  for  and  its  organization  completed,  and  the 
termination  of  all  hopes  by  the  order  now  promulgated,  it 
is  no  wonder  that  the  men  were  defiant — determined  by  all 
peaceable  means  to  resist  enforcement  of  the  order.  These 
men  had  enlisted  for  the  Seventeenth  Regiment,  and  were 
so  mustered.  Many  were  actuated  by  personal  regard  for 
their  officers  in  joining  the  service  ;  it  was  indeed  a  harsh 
measure  that  changed  all  this  and  was  to  take  them  from 
the  command  to  which  they  had  sworn  allegiance  and  in 
which' were  centered  so  many  brilliant  hopes  and  fraternal 
associations. 

Governor  Berry  said  of  this  action  : 

"  I  visited  Washington  and  laid  the  case  before  Secretary  Cameron, 
being  very  anxious  to  meet  the  views  of  Colonel  Kent  and  his  com 
mand  and  have  the  regiment  placed  on  duty.  After  many  delays  and 
disappointments,  it  was  decided  to  consolidate  the  Seventeenth  Regi 
ment  with  the  Second  New  Hampshire  Infantry,  which  was  to  be 
ordered  home  for  that  purpose.  I  well  remember  communicating  this 
decision  to  Colonel  Kent  and  the  regret  and  disappointment  it  occa 
sioned  to  both  of  us." 

In  Secretary  Proctor's  report  of  the  Committee  on  Mili 
tary  Affairs  he  states : 

4i  The  Seventeenth  New  Hampshire  Volunteers  was  borne  upon  the 
rolls  as  a  regiment  in  the  service  of  the  United  States  between  the 
dates  above  specified  [Oct.  23,  i862-April  16,  1863]  under  the  com 
mand  of  Colonel  Kent  during  which  time  his  orders  and  requisitions 
in  the  enlistment,  equipment,  organization,  sustenance,  and  disci 
pline  of  the  regiment  in  that  capacity  were  recognized  and  duly  hon 
ored  by  the  national  government.  He  was  deprived  of  his  command 
without  fault  of  his  own,  against  his  will,  and  was  wronged  out  of  his 
chance  for  honorable  distinction  by  reason  of  his  self-sacrificing  devo 
tion  to  the  public  good,  and  this  after  the  country  had  received  the 
great  benefit  of  his  exertions  preparatory  to  the  opportunity  in  which  he 
had  a  right  to  expect  to  perform  such  service  in  the  field  as  by  educa 
tion,  ability,  and  high  character  he  was  eminently  capable  of  rendering." 

Earnest,  efforts  by  the  field   and    line    officers  were  made 


RETURN  TO   CAMP  ETHAN  COLBY.  83 

through  memorials  to  members  of  congress,  to  induce  the 
war  department  to  rescind  the  order  for  consolidation  and 
convert  the  regiment  into  batteries  of  artillery,  send  it  out 
as  a  battalion,  or  place  it  on  detached  service,  that  the 
officers  and  men  might  together  serve  out  their  enlistment 
at  the  front;  but  none  of  these  requests  were  granted,  and 
it  only  remained  to  submit  to  the  inevitable  and  accept  the 
stern  realities  from  which  there  was  no  escape. 

While  these  matters  were  pending  a  meeting  of  the 
sergeants  of  the  companies  was  held  to  discuss  the 
situation.  It  was  decided  to  send  a  committee  to  "  memo 
rialize  the  governor  and  council,"  in  a  statement  prepared 
from  their  own  standpoint  and  embodying  their  ideas 
of  what  was  right  and  proper.  Sergeants  Derby, 
Larkin,  King,  and  Grey  were  on  this  committee.  It 
has  never  been  made  officially  known  how  this  enter 
prise  resulted.  There  is  no  record  of  the  conference 
in  the  minutes  of  council  sessions,  and  Governor  Berry  was 
never  heard  to  speak  of  it.  But  a  rumor  which  appeared 
to  be  well  authenticated  soon  spread  that  Sergeant  Larkin 
was  the  orator;  that  his  prelude  "Your  excellency  and 
gentlemen  of  the  council  "  was  received  with  some  favor; 
that  the  "memorializing"  was  not  quite  so  successful;  but 
that  in  the  midst  of  his  statement  of  facts,  prepared  by  the 
combined  wisdom  of  the  sergeants,  Governor  Berry  arose 
and  iri  a  brief  but  emphatic  address,  during  which  his  right 
hand  clasped  the  collar  of  Sergeant  Larkin's  coat,  hinted  so 
unmistakably  that  the  committee  would  do  well  to  retire 
without  an  instant's  delay,  they  all  bolted,  and  stopped  not 
by  the  wayside — not  even  at  Elder  Hook's,  until  they  were 
once  more  safely  inside  the  guard  lines  of  Camp  Ethan 
Colby.  Rumors  of  this  delegation  and  its  object  were 
already  afloat.  Its  heroic  action  and  successful  retreat  were 
duly  applauded  and  the  committee  became  known  as  the 
"  annex  of  the  governor's  council." 


84          SEVENTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE   REGIMENT. 

The  following  is  Governor  Berry's  special  order: 

STATE  OF  NEW  HAMPSHIRE, 

ADJUTANT  GENERAL'S  OFFICE, 

CONCORD,  April  16,    1863. 
Special  Order,  No.  2. 

The  following  order  has  been  received  by  the  governor  and  com- 
mander-in-chief  from  the  war  department : 

WAR  DEPARTMENT, 
WASHINGTON  CITY,  April  i,  1863. 

To  His  Excellency,  N.  S.  Berry,  Governor  of  New  Hampshire,  Wash 
ington,  D.  C.  : 

SIR  : — The  secretary  of  war  directs  that  the  Second  and  Seventeenth 
Regiments  of  New  Hampshire  Volunteers  be  consolidated  under  your 
direction,  and  that  supernumerary  officers  be  mustered  out  of  service  ; 
the  Second  Regiment  to  retain  its  organization.  The  new  organiza 
tion  will  conform  to  that  prescribed  by  law  for  volunteer  forces. 
I  have  the  honor  to  be  very  respectfully  sir, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

ED.  M.  CANBY, 

Brig.  Gen"1 1  and  A.  A.  G. 

In  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  the  foregoing  order  and  by  vir 
tue  of  the  authority  in  me  vested  by  its  provisions,  it  is  hereby  ordered, 
i  st.  The  consolidation  shall  be  effected  this  day  ;  and  prior  thereto 
all  commissioned  officers  of  the  Seventeenth  Regiment,  and  all  war 
rant  officers  of  the  same,  of  whatever  grade,  commissioned  by  the  col 
onel  of  said  regiment,  are  to  be  mustered  out  of  service. 

2nd.  It  is  understood  that  the  band  of  the  Seventeenth  Regiment  is 
to  serve  for  the  unexpired  term  of  its  enlistment,  as  the  regimental 
band  of  the  Second  Regiment ;  and  that  the  commissioned  and  non 
commissioned  officers  of  the  Seventeenth  Regiment  mustered  out,  and 
the  men  of  the  Seventeenth  Regiment  turned  over  to  the  Second  are  to 
be  paid  at  the  date  of  transfer,  or  as  soon  thereafter  as  a  paymaster 
can  be  procured. 

3d.  The  men  of  the  Seventeenth  Regiment  not  mustered  out  are  to 
be  turned  over  by  Colonel  Henry  O.  Kent,  commanding  said  regiment^ 
to  the  command  of  Lieut.  Col.  Edward  L.  Bailey,  commanding  the 
Second  Regiment,  to  serve  out  the  unexpired  period  of  their  enlist 
ment. 

4th.  Col.  Henry  O.  Kent  is  charged  with  the  execution  of  the  de 
tails  of  this  order  on  the  part  of  the  Seventeenth  Regiment,  and  Lieut. 


RETURN   TO    CAMP  ETHAN  COLBY.  85 

Col.  Edward  L.  Bailey,  commanding,  on  the  part  of  the  Second  Regi 
ment. 

Capt.  Charles  Holmes,  U.S.  mustering  officer,  will  muster  out  and 
discharge  by  arrangement  with  Colonel  Kent,  the  commissioned  and 
non-commissioned  officers  designated  in  this  order. 

In  carrying  into  effect  this  order  the  governor  regrets  the  necessity 
that  disbands  the  Seventeenth  Regiment,  the  more,  that  during  its  long 
and  uncertain  delay  in  camp,  its  conduct  has  been  such  as  to  reflect 
credit  upon  its  officers  and  men.  The  discipline,  neatness,  and  general 
behaviour  of  its  members,  fully  warranting  the  belief  of  its  efficiency, 
could  its  ranks  have  been  filled.  In  joining  the  Second  Regiment,  how 
ever,  its  members  will  become  affiliated  in  one  of  the  best  regiments  of 
the  service. 

By  order  of  His  Excellency, 

NATHANIEL  S.  BERRY, 

Governor  and  Commander-in-chief. 
ANTHONY  COLBY, 

Adjutant-  General. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 
CONSOLIDATED  WITH  THE  SECOND  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

"  It's  a  blessed  sort  of  feeling 

Whether  you  live  or  die 
To  know  you  've  helped  your  country 
And  fought  right  loyally." 

In  accordance  with  General  Canby's  instructions, 
enforced  by  Governor  Berry,  the  consolidation  was  effected 
April  1 6th  and  i/th  and  the  following  additional  order 
issued  : 

HEADQUARTERS  iyxH  N.  H.  VOLUNTEERS, 

CONCORD,  April  i6th,  1863. 
General  Order  No.  1 1 . 

In  compliance  with  an  order  from  his  excellency,  the  commander-in- 
chief,  it  is  hereby  ordered  as  follows  : 

I.  All  camp  and  garrison  equipage,  and  all  arms  or  any  public  prop 
erty  of  whatever  description,  shall  be  turned  over  to  the  quartermaster, 
who  will  receipt  for  them.     The  quartermaster  will  compare  the  invoice 
of  articles  delivered,  with  the  invoice  of  articles  received,  accounting 
for  the  difference  as  accounted  for  on  the  company  returns.     Articles 
missing  from  his  original  invoice  will  be  accounted  for  in  a  satisfactory 
manner. 

II.  The  surgeon  will  take  an  invoice  of  all  hospital  stores  originally 
received,  and    an    invoice  of   stores    on    hand,   turning    over  with    the 
invoice  of  stores   expended  the  hospital    stores    on   hand   to   Captain 
Charles  S.   Holmes,  U.    S.    A.,  acting    quartermaster,  who   will    give 
receipts  for  them. 

III.  Commanders  of  companies  will,  at  the  proper  time,  transfer  all 
rolls,  etc.,  necessary  for  the  guidance  of  the  officers  to  whom  the  men 
are  transferred,  in  order  that  each  and  every  man  may  have  justice  done 
him.     Commanders  of  companies  shall,  after  the  muster  out  of   non- 


CONSOLIDATED    WITH  THE   SECOND.  87 

commissioned  officers,  prepare  a  roll  of  men  remaining,  transferred  to 
the  Second  Regiment,  and  deliver  the  same  to  these  headquarters. 

By  order, 

HENRY  O.  KENT, 

Colonel  Commanding  I  jtk  N.  H.  V. 
GEO.  A.  WAINWRIGHT, 

Adjutant. 

The  last  dress  parade  of  the  Seventeenth  New  Hamp 
shire  Infantry  was  held  on  the  i6th  of  April,  1863,  and  it 
was  a  sad  and  affecting  occasion.  "  It  made  me  cry,"  said 
a  lieutenant  afterwards,  and  indeed  there  were  few  dry  eyes 
either  in  the  ranks  or  among  the  officers.  The  general 
orders  were  read  by  the  adjutant.  The  men  so  designated 
were  honorably  discharged  and  all  others  transferred  to  the 
Second  Regiment.  Then  came  the  final  leavetaking  between 
the  officers,  their  men,  and  each  other,  and  all  was  over  ! 

The  final  entry  in  the  regimental  order  book  should  be 
preserved.  It  is  as  follows: 

HEADQUARTERS  iyTH  N.  H.  VOLS. 
CAMP  ETHAN  COLBY,  CONCORD,  N.  H. 

April   1 7th,  1863. 

In  obedience,  to  orders  from  the  war  department,  bearing  date  April  i , 
1863,  as  promulgated  by  the  governor  of  New  Hampshire,  recorded  on 
pages  20  and  21  of  this  book,  and  of  General  Order  No.  n  of  these 
headquarters  of  April  i6th,  1863,  recorded  on  page  19  of  this  book: 

The  consolidation  of  this  regiment  with  the  Second  Regiment  N.  H. 
Volunteers  was  effected  April  i6th  and  iyth. 

The  commissioned  and  non-commissioned  officers  and  all  warrant 
officers  of  the  Seventeenth  Regiment  were  mustered  out  of  the  service 
April  1 6th  (for  non-commissioned  and  warrant  officers,  and  April  iyth 
for  commissioned  officers),  by  Captain  Charles  Holmes,  U.  S.  Muster 
ing  Officer. 

The  enlisted  men  were  turned  over  by  me,  on  parade,  to  Colonel 
Edward  L.  Bailey,  commanding  the  Second  N.  H.  Volunteers,  and 
transfer  rolls  were  prepared  on  the  i6th  day  of  April,  1863. 

For    a    record  of  these    officers  and    men    reference  is  made  to    the 

Regimental  Descriptive  Book. 

HENRY  O.  KENT, 

Colonel  ijth  Regt.  N.  H.  Vols. 


88          SEVENTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE   REGIMENT. 

A  record  of  the  officers  mustered  out  will  be  found  in 
Adjutant-General's  Report,  Vol.  I  for  1865,  under  title 
"  Seventeenth  Regiment,"  and  a  record  of  the  enlisted  men 
transferred  will  be  found  in  Adjutant-General's  Report, 
Vol.  i  for  1866,  under  title,  "  Second  Regiment." 

It  is  proper  to  repeat  here  in  substance  a  statement  al 
ready  made  in  the  earlier  part  of  this  history,  that  His  Ex 
cellency,  Governor  Berry,  and  the  gentlemen  who  composed 
his  council  acted  in  every  emergency  as  it  arose  from  an 
honest  sense  of  duty,  and  should  not  be  held  responsible 
for  the  existence  of  those  facts  which  overruled  and  crushed 
the  regiment.  They  exhibited  a  hearty  interest  in  the 
welfare  of  the  command  and  deeply  regretted  the  necessity 
for  consolidation.  Manifestations  of  sympathy  were  general 
among  state  officials  and  prominent  citizens  of  Concord  ; 
and  it  was  a  common  remark  that  no  other  regiment  had 
acquitted  itself  so  well  in  camp,  or  deserved  so  largely  the 
respect  of  the  people,  for  its  soldierly  behaviour  under 
most  adverse  circumstances. 

Of  the  immediate  causes  which  brought  about  the  disin 
tegration  of  one  of  the  best  regiments  organized  during  the 
war,  it  would  be  useless  to  speculate.  The  facts  are  as  we 
have  stated  them, — the  result  was  deplorable  ;  but  further 
discussion  would  only  prove  the  truth  of  Pyrrho's  maxim: 

"  And  no  man  knows  distinctly  anything 
And  no  man  ever  will." 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

THE    ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S    OFFICIAL   REPORT    CON 
CERNING  THE  SEVENTEENTH  REGIMENT. 

'Tis  meet  that  I  should  tell  you  now 
How  fairly  armed  and  ordered  how 
Were  men  in  ranks  and  men  enow 
Had  they  been  mustered. 

Adapted. 

Indissolubly  connected  with  the  history  of  the  regiment 
are  the  official  documents  concerning  it  and  the  conclu 
sions  drawn  from  them.  It  seems  proper,  therefore,  to 
print  in  this  place  the  report  of  Adjutant-General  Natt 
Head,  as  made  to  the  governor  and  council,  in  the  official 
volume  issued  for  the  year  1866.  It  is  as  follows: 

" SEVENTEENTH     INFANTRY. 

"The  circumstances  attending  this  regiment  up  to  the 
time  of  its  consolidation  with  the  Second  Infantry,  were 
such  as  to  make  a  brief  statement  in  this  place  concerning 
it,  compiled  from  official  records  an  act  of  the  simplest 
justice  to  its  commander,  Colonel  Henry  O.  Kent,  his  offi 
cers,  and  the  enlisted  men. 

"Although  the  Seventeenth  was  neither  filled  nor  ordered 
to  the  front,  the  officers  and  men  upon  its  rolls  were  com 
missioned,  and  enlisted  in  full  expectation  of  immediate 
service,  and  as  well  as  those  at  the  front  evinced  their 
patriotism  by  responding  to  the  call  of  the  country  for 
volunteers. 

"  In  the  summer  or  early  autumn  of  1862  a  call  was 
received  by  the  governor  for  men  sufficient  to  fill  three 
regiments  of  infantry.  Upon  consultation  it  was  deter 
mined  to  apportion  this  levy  between  the  three  congres- 


90         SEVENTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE   REGIMENT. 

sional  districts  of  the  state ;  the  Fifteenth  Regiment  to 
correspond  to  the  First  District ;  the  Sixteenth  Regiment  to 
the  Second  District ;  and  the  Seventeenth  Regiment  to  the 
Third  District.  The  field  officers  of  the  respective  com 
mands  were  immediately  thereafter  commissioned  and 
announced  accordingly. 

"The  records  of  this  office  show  that  there  were  enlisted 
and  mustered  into  the  Seventeenth,  and  enlisted  in  the 
territory  originally  assigned  to  it,  791  men;  the  unfilled 
quotas  in  the  Third  District,  at  the  time  of  the  consolidation 
of  the  Seventeenth  and  Second,  with  the  number  791,  more 
than  reaching  the  minimum  number  of  men  required  by 
the  regulations  for  a  complete  regimental  organization. 

"While  enlistments  were  progressing,  orders  were  received 
urging  forward  the  new  levies,  and  it  was  deemed  advisable 
by  the  state  executive  authorities  to  fill  the  regiments  in 
their  numerical  order  as  fast  as  men  were  enlisted. 

"Accordingly,  those  who  had  volunteered  with  prompt 
ness  in  the  Third  District  were  ordered  into  the  Fifteenth 
and  Sixteenth  Regiments  consecutively,  leaving  for  the  Sev 
enteenth  the  dilatory  levies  from  the  other  districts.  On 
the  1 9th  of  November,  1862,  the  regiment  was  ordered 
into  camp  at  Concord.  Nearly  a  full  company  above  the 
required  quota  of  the  town  had  volunteered  for  it  in  Lan 
caster,  the  residence  of  the  regimental  commander  and  of 
the  line  officers  of  Company  A ;  and  it  was  with  reason 
expected  by  the  regimental  officers  that  the  impending 
draft  would  soon  be  resorted  to,  to  fill  the  ranks. 

"A  regimental  organization  was  at  once  perfected,  and 
the  drill,  discipline  and  instruction-  of  the  command  com 
menced,  and  scrupulously  adhered  to.  In  December,  the 
governor,  upon  consultation  with  the  state  board  of  drafting 
commissioners,  decided  to  postpone  the  state  draft;  and 
orders  were  issued  from  the  same  source  to  reject  all  sub 
stitutes  applying  for  enlistment  on  the  unfilled  quotas. 


ADJUTANT-GENERAL   HEAD'S  REPORT.  91 

"Very  few  volunteers  appeared;  and  on  February  9, 
1863,  officers  and  men  were  furloughed  until  the  first  of 
the  succeeding  April,  at  which  time  the  command  again 
reported  in  camp,  cheered  by  the  official  assurance,  made 
originally  at  the  time  of  granting  the  furloughs,  that  the 
regiment  would  be  at  once  thereafter  filled,  in  order  to 
participate  in  the  spring  and  summer  campaigns  of  1863. 

''About  this  time  Governor  Berry  was  instructed  by  the 
secretary  of  war  to  effect  the  consolidation  of  the  Seven 
teenth  and  Second,  under  such  regulations  as  he  might 
prescribe.  On  the  sixteenth  of  the  same  month  this  order 
was  carried  into  effect;  the  officers  and  non-commissioned 
officers  of  the  Seventeenth  mustered  out,  and  the  enlisted 
men  transferred. 

"The  order  effecting  this  expressed  in  emphatic  terms 
the  approbation  of  the  civil  and  military  authorities  of  the 
soldierly  deportment  of  the  regiment  during  its  probation, 
and  the  press  \vas  equally  explicit  in  remarking  upon  the 
excellent  discipline  and  deportment  that  had  uniformly 
characterized  the  command. 

"The  men  transferred  to  the  Second  proved  excellent 
soldiers,  behaving  like  veterans  at  Gettysburg,  and  eliciting 
a  special  order  of  commendation  from  the  colonel  of  that 
regiment  at  the  expiration  of  their  time  of  service. 

"The  commissioned  officers  of  the  Seventeenth  used  all 
honorable  exertions  to  fill  the  ranks,  and  to  be  permitted 
to  remain  with  the  men,  some  of  them  declining  other 
positions,  when  the  fate  of  the  regiment  was  involved  in 
doubt,  in  order  to  share  its  fortunes.  Various  memorials 
were  also  presented  by  them,  praying  that  the  regiment 
might  be  assigned,  in  its  then  state,  to  special  duty. 

"  When  the  consolidation  was  effected,  it  had  long  been  a 
matter  of  official  certainty  that  the  failure  in  filling  and  for 
warding  the  Seventeenth,  was  in  no  degree  attributable  to 
its  officers,  but  rather  that  they  had  used  every  exertion  to 


92          SEVENTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE    REGIMENT. 


that  end  ;  men  in  sufficient  number  having  been  actually 
enlisted,  who  in  accordance  with  the  presumed  exigencies 
of  the  service,  had  been  given  to  other  commands. 

"  Every  indication  observable,  relative  to  discipline,  drill, 
and  instruction,  proved  the  fitness  of  the  officers  of  the 
Seventeenth  for  duty;  and  the  excellence  of  the  men, 
together  with  their  attachment  to  their  original  officers  and 
organization,  added  to  the  regrets  that  followed  the  con 
solidation. 

"  In  the  honorable  record  of  the  New  Hampshire  reg 
iments,  the  officers  and  men  of  the  Seventeenth  New 

I  lampshiiv  Infantry  should 
have  honorable  mention, 
as  citizens  who  performed 
their  entire  duty  under  dis 
couraging  circumstances, 
with  steady  promptitude 
and  consistent  patriotism." 

No  man  had  been  more 
familiar  with  the  practical 
workings  and  official  ac 
tions  of  the  state  depart 
ments  in  connection  with 
the  various  infantry  regi 
ments  than  Adjutant-Gen 
eral  Head.  He  wras  on  the 
ground,  had  a  keen  per 
ception  and  comprehen 
sive  opinion  of  affairs  as 
they  arose  ;  and  with  the  records  in  his  office  to  guide  him 
wrote  this  report  from  an  executive  and  judicial  standpoint. 
It  is  a  faithful  telling  of  the  story  by  an  impartial  witness, 
and  an  upright  man.  General  Head  was  afterwards  elected 
governor  of  the  state. 


NATT  HEAD. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 
GOVERNOR  BERRY'S  STORY  OF  THE  REGIMENT. 

For  none  who  knew  him  need  be  told 
A  warmer  heart  death  ne  'er  made  cold. 

Burns. 

Governor  Berry  was  at  all  times  anxious  that  justice 
should  be  accorded  to  the  regiment,  and  never  ceased  to 
regret  his  own  inability  to  complete  its  organization  and 
send  it  to  the  front.  When,  in  later  years,  it  seemed  neces 
sary,  in  order  to  ensure  for  all  time  the  proper  status  of 
the  regiment,  that  an  enabling  act  should  be  passed  by 
congress,  he  cheerfully,  and  with  many  expressions  of  good 
will  accompanying  it,  furnished  the  following  statement  to 
be  used  for  that  purpose.  Although  occasional  extracts 
from  this  statement  appear  in  the  preceding  pages,  it  seems 
best  to  reproduce  it  here  in  its  entirety,  that  it  may  become 
a  part  of  the  historical  record,  in  the  completed  form  in 
which  it  was  first  prepared  by  the  ex-governor: 

To  the  Congress  of  the  United  States  : 

I,  Nathaniel  S.  Berry,  now  of  Bristol,  in  the  county  of  Grafton  and 
state  of  New  Hampshire,  make  this  statement  for  use  by  Henry  O. 
Kent  of  Lancaster,  in  said  state,  in  the  matter  of  Senate  bill  No.  1 129, 
now  pending,  for  the  recognition  of  Henry  O.  Kent  as  colonel  of  the 
Seventeenth  New  Hampshire  Volunteers. 

I  was  elected  governor  of  the  state  of  New  Hampshire  in  March, 
A.  D.,  1861,  and  was  inaugurated  in  June  following.  I  was  again  elected 
in  1862,  and  served  as  governor  until  June,  1863.  During  this  period 
the  Third,  Fourth,  Fifth,  Sixth,  Seventh,  Eighth,  Ninth,  Tenth, 
Eleventh,  Twelfth,  Thirteenth,  Fourteenth,  Fifteenth,  Sixteenth,  Sev 
enteenth,  and  Eighteenth  Infantry  Regiments  were  enlisted  for  the  war. 
Only  the  Heavy  Artillery  was  organized  after  my  term  expired,  and 


94         SE  VENTEENTH  NE IV  HAMPSHIRE  REGIMENT. 

only  two  regiments,  the  First  and  Second  Infantry,  were  raised  before 
I  took  office  as  governor. 

When  I  was  inaugurated  governor,  Henry  O.  Kent,  whom  I  had  for 
some  years  previously  well  known,  was  acting  under  a  commission  of 
my  predecessor,  Governor  Ichabod  Goodwin,  as  assistant  adjutant- 
^eneral,  with  the  rank  of  colonel,  at  Portsmouth,  N.  H.,  where  the 

•fe 

Second  New  Hampshire  Infantry  was  then  in  camp,  and  where  state 
troops  were  holding  Fort  Constitution  under  authority  of  Major-General 
John  E.  Wool,  United  States  Army. 

Colonel  Kent  had  been  a  cadet,  and  was  a  graduate  of  a  military 
academy  (Norwich  University),  and  had  been  under  orders  of  the  gov 
ernor  and  adjutant-general  in  enlisting  and  organizing  the  earlier  troops 
from  the  state  from  the  date  of  hostilities.  He  was  continued  in  this 
duty  by  me  during  the  recruiting  of  1861.  I  understood  that  his  ser 
vices  at  the  front  were  at  all  times  at  the  disposal  of  the  state,  when 
ever  I  might  call  for  them. 

In  1862  he  was  elected  to  the  legislature  from  Lancaster,  and  was 
chairman  of  the  Military  Committee  of  the  House,  shaping  the  legisla 
tion  of  that  year,  relative  to  the  volunteers  and  militia. 

In  the  autumn  of  1862,  President  Lincoln  issued  a  call  for  300,000 
volunteers,  the  quota  of  New  Hampshire  being  three  regiments.  The 
governor  and  executive  council,  in  determining  how  this  quota  should 
be  raised,  consulted  sundry  of  the  public  and  military  men  of  the  state  ; 
among  these,  from  his  familiarity  with  the  state,  his  prior  connection 
with  the  service,  and  his  position  in  the  legislature,  was  Colonel  Kent. 

He  suggested  that  the  three  regiments  called  for  be  assigned  respect 
ively  to  the  three  Congressional  districts  of  the  state  as  then  consti 
tuted.  This  plan  was  adopted,  and  it  was  decided  to  organize  the 
Fifteenth,  Sixteenth,  and  Seventeenth  Infantry  regiments,  in  the  First, 
Second,  and  Third  Congressional  districts  ;  to  appoint  their  field  offi 
cers  and  authorize  them  to  recruit  for  their  respective  commands. 

John  W.  Kingman  was  appointed  colonel  of  the  Fifteenth  Regiment, 
James  Pike,  of  the  Sixteenth  Regiment,  and  Henry  O.  Kent,  of  the 
Seventeenth  Regiment,  and  said  regiments  were  ordered  into  camp  at 
Concord,  consecutively. 

Colonel  Kent's  commission  as  colonel  was  dated  October  23,  1862. 
He  immediately  set  about  the  work  assigned  him,  and  the  records  of 
the  adjutant-general's  office  show  that  791  men  volunteered  in  the 
Third  Congressional  District. 

The  Fifteenth  and  Sixteenth  regiments  being  in  camp,  but  not  full, 
by  reason  of  the  failure  of  some  towns  in  the  First  and  Second  Con- 


GOVERNOR  BERRY'S  STORY  OF   THE  REGIMENT.      95 

gressional  Districts  to  fill  their  quotas,  and  the  War  Department  urging 
haste  in  forwarding  regiments,  men  and  companies  from  the  Third 
Congressional  District  were  ordered  into  these  regiments,  the  intention 
being  to  supply  their  places  in  the  Seventeenth  by  filling  these  quotas 
for  that  regiment  at  a  later  period. 

As  a  result  of  this  policy,  the  Fifteenth  and  Sixteenth  Regiments  were 
sent  to  the  front  early  in  November,  1862.  The  Seventeenth  Regiment 
was  ordered  into  the  barracks  vacated  by  them  during  the  same  month. 

It  became  difficult  to  secure  enlistments  to  fill  these  laggard  quotas, 
and  thus  the  Seventeenth  never  had  men  enough  to  muster  its  colonel. 
A  full  regimental  organization  was,  however,  effected  by  Colonel  Kent 
about  the  middle  of  November,  1862,  and  drill,  discipline,  and  instruc- 
^tion  were  continued  by  him. 

He  was  fully  recognized  as  colonel,  both  by  the  state  and  national 
authorities,  his  requisitions  for  subsistence,  arms,  medical  supplies, 
quarters,  etc.,  always  being  fully  recognized,  both  at  Concord  and 
Washington.  He  was  in  direct  command  of  his  men  and  remained  in 
camp  with  them  continuously. 

Unable,  as  the  governor  and  his  executive  council  viewed  the  situ 
ation,  to  fill  the  Seventeenth  Regiment  by  volunteers,  and  a  state 
draft  having  been  abandoned,  in  February  I  directed  that  it  be  fur- 
loughed  until  April.  I  visited  Washington  and  laid  the  case  before 
Secretary  Cameron,  being  very  anxious  to  meet  the  views  of  Colonel 
Kent  and  his  command  and  have  the  regiment  placed  on  duty.  After 
many  delays  and  disappointments,  it  was  decided  to  consolidate  the 
Seventeenth  Regiment  with  the  Second  New  Hampshire  Infantry,  which 
was  to  be  ordered  home  for  that  purpose.  I  well  remember  communi 
cating  this  decision  to  Colonel  Kent,  and  the  regret  and  disappointment 
it  occasioned  to  both  of  us. 

In  this  matter  of  consolidation  Colonel  Kent  was  recognized  through 
out  as  colonel  in  command  of  a  regiment.  The  secretary  of  war  so 
understood  it,  and  in  the  general  orders  issued  by  me,  under  his  direc 
tions,  to  complete  his  purpose,  the  United  States  mustering  officer  was 
directed  to  proceed  in  certain  matters  of  detail  according  to  the  instruc 
tions  he  should  receive  from  Col.  Henry  O.  Kent,  commanding  the 
Seventeenth  Regiment  New  Hampshire  Infantry  Volunteers. 

The  Second  New  Hampshire  Infantry,  Lieut.  Col.  Edward  L.  Bailey 
commanding,  arrived  in  Concord  on  furlough.  The  muster-out  and 
transfer  rolls  were  made,  and  on  the  i6th  day  of  April,  1863,  Colonel 
Kent  paraded  his  regiment  and  turned  the  men  over  to  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Bailey,  by  whom  they  were  incorporated  in  the  Second  New 
Hampshire  Volunteers. 


96         SEVENTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE  REGIMENT. 

Colonel  Kent  was  paid  by  the  State  of  New  Hampshire  as  of  his 
grade  of  colonel,  and  the  United  States  reimbursed  the  state  for  such 
expenditure. 

From  the  time  of  his  commission,  October  23,  1862,  until  his  dis 
charge  under  War  Department  order  in  April,  1863,  by  reason  of  the 
consolidation  of  the  regiments,  Colonel  Kent  served  as  colonel  in  the 
actual  work  of  enlisting,  commanding,  instructing,  and  disciplining  his 
men.  No  question  was  raised  during  this  time  as  to  his  status  as 
colonel.  He  did  his  full  duty  honorably  and  well,  and  made  strenuous 
exertions  that  his  regiment  might  be  filled  and  go  to  the  front.  His 
men  were  so  well  disciplined  by  him  that  at  the  close  of  the  Gettysburg 
campaign  they  were  thanked  in  special  orders  by  Colonel  Bailey  of  the* 
Second,  with  special  reference  by  him  to  Colonel  Kent,  for  their  sol 
dierly  qualities  and  bravery. 

Colonel  Kent  was  commissioned  to  raise  a  regiment ;  he  did  raise  a 
regiment.  Many  of  his  men  by  the  exigencies  of  the  times  were  taken 
from  him,  but  he  organized  and  commanded  as  a  regiment  what  were 
left  him.  If  any  action  is  needed  to  place  beyond  question  his  rank 
and  status,  I  have  no  hesitation  in  saying  that  it  will  only  be  an  act  of 
justice  long  delayed  to  perfect  such  action. 

NATHANIEL  S.  BERRY. 

February  16,  1892. 


CHAPTER  XX. 
RECOGNITION  BY  CONGRESS. 

We  live  in  deeds,  not  years,  in  thoughts,  not  breaths; 

In  feelings,  not  in  figures  on  a  dial. 
We  should  count  time  by  heart  throbs.     He  most  lives 

Who  thinks  most,  feels  the  noblest,  acts  the  best. 

Bailey. 

The  enabling  act  referred  to  in  the  previous  chapter  was 
for  the  purpose  of  placing  upon  record  in  the  war  depart 
ment  as  a  distinct  and  legally  constituted  integral  part  of 
the  troops  in  the  War  of  the  Rebellion,  the  Seventeenth  New 
Hampshire  Infantry.  Such  action  became  necessary — not 
from  any  doubt  as  to  the  regiment's  position — for  that  never 
existed — but  owing  to  imperfect  records  and  careless  trans 
mission  of  rolls  and  other  evidence  from  one  department  to 
another.  The  bill  received  careful  examination,  and  was 
favorably  reported  in  each  branch  of  congress. 

Notwithstanding  the  annoyance  to  the  reader  of  too 
much  repetition,  it  is  believed  the  object  of  this  work  will 
be  better  attained  by  giving  here  in  full  the  report  on  the 
bill  of  Senator  Proctor  of  Vermont,  ex-secretary  of  war,  and 
chairman  of  the  committee  on  military  affairs. 

It  should  be  stated,  however,  in  connection  therewith, 
that  the  suggestion  in  the  second  paragraph,  "  to  prevent 
any  pay  or  allowance,  etc.,"  originated  with  Colonel  Kent 
himself  and  not  with  the  committee.  .  His  sole  object  was 
to  obtain  a  proper  recognition  for  the  regiment  and  its 
officers.  The  report  is  as  follows  : 


98         SEVENTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE   REGIMENT. 

FIFTY-SECOND  CONGRESS,  FIRST  SESSION. 
IN  THE  SENATE  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

Mr.  Proctor,  from  the  committee  on  military  affairs,  submitted  the 
following  report : 

The  committee  on  military  affairs,  to  whom  was  referred  the  bill  (S. 
1129)  for  the  relief  of  Henry  O.  Kent,  has  had  the  same  under  consid 
eration  and  submit  the  following  favorable  report : 

The  committee  recommend  that  the  bill  be  amended  so  as  to  pre 
vent  Colonel  Kent  from  receiving  any  pay  or  allowance  which  might  be 
due  him  by  reason  of  the  passage  of  this  bill,  and  when  so  amended 
the  committee  recommend  that  the  bill  pass. 

Under  the  call  of  President  Lincoln,  dated  Aug.  4,  1862,  for  300,000 
volunteers  the  State  of  New  Hampshire  was  required  to  organize  three 
regiments,  one  in  each  of  the  Congressional  districts  of  the  state,  and 
field  officers  were  appointed  by  the  governor  of  the  state  for  each  regi 
ment,  with  the  understanding  that  the  recruits  enlisted  in  the  three 
districts  were  to  belong  to  the  Fifteenth,  Sixteenth,  and  Seventeenth 
Regiments  of  New  Hampshire  Volunteers  respectively.  On  the  23d 
day  of  October,  A.  D.  1862,  Henry  O.  Kent,  of  Lancaster,  in  the 
Third  Congressional  district,  was  by  the  governor  duly  appointed  and 
commissioned  colonel  of  the  Seventeenth  Regiment,  and  proceeded  to 
raise  troops  and  to  organize  the  regiment  from  that  district.  Under 
this  arrangement  there  were  enlisted,  as  shown  by  the  report  of  the 
adjutant-general  of  the  state,  791  men  from  the  Third  district,  who 
belonged,  by  the  assignment  referred  to,  in  Colonel  Kent's  command. 
The  Fifteenth  and  Sixteenth  regiments,  assigned  to  the  First  and  Sec 
ond  districts,  not  being  filled  by  reason  of  the  failure  of  some  of  the 
towns  to  raise  their  quotas,  and  there  being  great  pressure  for  troops  in 
the  field,  made  by  the  war  department  upon  the  state  authorities,  it  was 
determined  by  the  latter  to  transfer  the  men  raised  in  the  Third  dis 
trict  for  Colonel  Kent's  regiment  to  the  Fifteenth  and  Sixteenth, 
thereby  completing  those  regiments  and  hurrying  them  to  the  front. 
This  was  accordingly  done,  leaving  Colonel  Kent  with  but  a  small  pro 
portion  of  his  men. 

The  Fifteenth  and  Sixteenth  left  the  state  in  the  month  of  November, 
1862.  Colonel  Kent's  regimental  organization  occupied  the  camp 
vacated  by  the  Fifteenth  and  continued  there  under  his  command  from 
the  igth  day  of  November,  1862,  until  the  i6th  day  of  April,  1863, 
excepting  while  a  portion  of  the  men  were  furloughed  to  save  expense. 
Great  exertions  were  made  to  fill  the  regiment  by  Colonel  Kent,  who 


RECOGNITION  BY  CONGRESS.  99 

was  an  able,  accomplished,  and  popular  officer;  but  owing  to  the 
extreme  depletion  of  the  arms-bearing  population  of  the  state  and  the 
necessity  of  filling  the  ranks  of  the  older  regiments,  which  was  contin 
ually  being  done  largely  as  the  result  of  Colonel  Kent's  efforts  during 
the  same  period,  it  was  found  to  be  impossible  to  thus  complete  his  reg 
iment. 

Thereupon  various  efforts  were  made  to  obtain  service  for  the  regi 
mental  organization  as  it  stood,  but  it  was  finally  determined,  on  full 
consultation  with  the  president  and  Secretary  Cameron,  that  it  would 
be  better  to  transfer  the  Seventeenth  bodily  into  the  ranks  of  the  Sec 
ond  New  Hampshire  Volunteers  ;  and  this  was  accordingly  done,  with 
the  exception  of  the  commissioned  and  non-commissioned  officers,  who 
were  mustered  out  under  an  existing  general  order.  They  served  out 
their  unexpired  time  as  soldiers  of  the  Seventeenth  New  Hampshire 
Volunteers,  under  the  command  of  the  officers  and  as  a  part  of  the  Sec 
ond  Regiment.  As  such  they  participated  in  the  Battle  of  Gettysburg, 
and  were  thanked  by  Colonel  Bailey,  of  the  Second  New  Hampshire 
Volunteers,  for  the  disciplined  valor  they  displayed  in  that  decisive 
battle  of  the  war  by  a  regimental  order,  in  which  great  praise  was  be 
stowed  upon  Colonel  Kent  and  his  officers  of  the  Seventeenth  for  the 
unusual  skill,  steadiness,  and  efficiency  of  their  deportment  in  the  field. 
Several  members  of  the  regiment  are  pensioned  as  soldiers  of  the  Sev 
enteenth  New  Hampshire  Volunteers.  The  other  field  officers,  and 
most  of  the  company  and  non-commissioned  officers,  were  distributed 
as  officers  or  privates  in  various  other  organizations. 

Subsequent  to  the  organization  of  the  Fifteenth  and  Sixteenth  Regi 
ments  one  full  company  and  part  of  another,  in  all  about  125  men, 
were  added  to  the  Seventeenth  Regiment  from  the  other  Congressional 
districts,  who,  with  the  791  men  belonging  to  Colonel  Kent's  regiment 
as  enlisted  from  the  Third  district,  would  have  made  the  total  number 
under  his  command  916  men — considerably  more  than  the  number  en 
titling  him  to  muster  into  the  service  of  the  United  States  as  colonel  of 
the  regiment. 

At  the  outbreak  of  the  war  Colonel  Kent  began  enlisting  men  at  his 
home  in  Lancaster,  immediately  raising  a  large  part  of  Company  F,  of 
the  Second  New  Hampshire  Volunteers,  but  being  a  graduate  of  the 
military  university  of  Norwich,  Vt.,  and  having  much  ability  in  busi 
ness  affairs,  the  inexperienced  state  authorities  in  the  hurried  organiza 
tion  of  troops  found  his  services  indispensable,  and  from  a  sense  of 
duty  he  sacrificed  his  desire  to  go  into  the  field  in  order  to  remain  in 
the  state  as  assistant  adjutant-general,  in  which  capacity  he  aided  the 


IOO      SEVENTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE   REGIMENT. 

government  greatly  during  the  early  part  of  the  war,  constantly  holding 
himself  in  readiness  to  go  into  the  active  service  whenever  the  authori 
ties  desired.  During  the  whole  war  he  displayed  great  patriotic  activ 
ity  in  other  ways  as  well  as  in  the  capacity  of  a  colonel  of  volunteers, 
in  which  he  actually  served  from  October  23,  1862.  until  April  16, 
1863,  although  for  the  reasons  herein  set  forth  he  was  never  formally 
mustered. 

The  Seventeenth  New  Hampshire  Volunteers  was  borne  upon  the 
rolls  as  a  regiment  in  the  service  of  the  United  States  between  the  dates 
above  specified,  under  the  command  of  Colonel  Kent,  during  which 
time  his  orders  and  requisitions  in  the  enlistment,  equipment,  organi 
zation,  and  sustenance,  and  discipline  of  the  regiment  in  that  capacity 
were  recognized  and  duly  honored  by  the  national  government.  He 
was  deprived  of  his  command  without  fault  of  his  own,  against  his  will, 
and  was  wronged  out  of  his  chance  for  honorable  distinction  by  reason 
of  his  self-sacrificing  devotion  to  the  public  good,  and  this  after  the 
country  had  received  the  great  benefit  of  his  exertions  preparatory  to 
the  opportunity  which  he  had  a  right  to  expect,  to  perform  such  service 
in  the  field,  as  by  education,  ability,  and  high  character  he  was  emi 
nently  capable  of  rendering. 

He  asks  nothing  of  a  pecuniary  nature,  the  general  government  hav 
ing  paid  the  full  compensation  of  the  Seventeenth  Regiment  of  New 
Hampshire  Volunteers,  officers  and  men,  as  such,  in  full. 

He  only  asks  recognition  upon  the  military  records  of  his  country  as 
colonel  of  the  regiment  of  which  he  was  in  fact  the  colonel,  but  which 
without  legislation  he  cannot  receive  by  reason  of  a  technical  failure  of 
the  general  law  of  1884  as  construed  by  the  war  department. 

On  October  13,  1886,  Colonel  Kent  asked  the  war  department  for 
recognition  as  colonel  of  the  Seventeenth  Regiment  undertheact  of  June 
3,  1884,  the  language  of  that  act  being  as  follows  : 

Any  person  duly  appointed  and  commissioned  shall  be  considered  as  com 
missioned  to  the  grade  therein  named  from  the  date  when  his  commission 
was  issued  by  competent  authority,  and  shall  be  entitled  to  all  pay  and  emol 
uments  as  if  actually  mustered  at  that  date,  provided  that  at  the  date  of  his 
commission  he  was  actually  performing  the  duties  of  his  grade,  or  if  not  so 
performing  such  duties,  then  from  such  time  after  the  date  of  his  commission 
as  he  may  actually  have  entered  upon  such  duties,  and  provided  that  this  act 
and  the  resolution  hereby  amended  shall  be  construed  to  apply  only  to  those 
cases  where  the  commission  bears  date  prior  to  June  20,  1863,  or  after  that 
date  when  their  commands  were  not  below  the  minimum  number  required  by 
existing  laws  and  regulations. 


RECOGNITION  BY  CONGRESS.  IOI 

It  seemed  to  Colonel  Kent  and  those  who  in  his  behalf  urged  that 
he  be  accorded  recognition  as  colonel  that  his  case  came  clearly  within 
this  act  of  June  3,  1884. 

(1)  He  had  been  appointed    and   commissioned    as    colonel  by  the 
governor  of  New  Hampshire,  and  had  actually  received  the  full  pay  and 
emoluments  of  that  grade,  and  the  amounts  paid   him   had  been  reim 
bursed  by  the  United  States  to  the  state  of  New  Hampshire. 

(2)  He  had  actually  performed  the  duties  of  his    grade    for   the  full 
time  of  his  service. 

(3,)  His  commission  bore  date  prior  to  June  20,  1863,  namely,  Oc 
tober  23,  1862;  so  that  the  fact  that  his  command  did  not  reach  the 
minimum  was  under  the  law  explicitly  no  obstacle  to  his  recognition. 

But  the  application  for  recognition  under  this  act  of  June  3,  1884, 
was  denied  by  the  war  department  by  letter  of  October  19,  1886,  on  the 
ground  that  the  act  was  not  intended  to  apply  to  original  vacancies  but 
only  to  those  happening  when  regiments  in  the  service  were  reduced 
below  the  required  minimum. 

Thus  defeated  in  his  commendable  and  honorable  efforts  to  secure 
from  the  war  department  that  recognition  as  colonel,  to  which  he  con 
sidered  himself  as  fairly  and  equitably  entitled,  Colonel  Kent  has  been 
compelled  to  appeal  to  congress  for  a  statute  declaring  him  entitled  to 
such  recognition.  The  bill  carries  with  it  no  pay,  allowances,  or  emol 
uments  whatever,  for,  as  has  been  stated,  he  was  fully  paid  as  colonel 
by  the  state  of  New  Hampshire,  which  has  been  reimbursed  by  the 
genera]  government. 

His  motive  is  not  mercenary  nor  wholly  selfish.  Having  done  what 
he  could  in  the  emergency  of  the  Union  to  reach  the  field  of  battle  in 
its  defense,  and  having  labored  assiduously  in  the  organization  and  the 
command  of  a  body  of  troops,  the  soldiers  of  which  faithfully  served 
during  the  war,  and  being  balked  in  his  purpose  by  annoying  circum 
stances  beyond  his  own  control,  he  has  a  natural  desire  to  perfect  and 
complete  his  military  record  according  to  the  actual  facts,  and  to  stand 
officially  and  formally  recorded  among  the  Union  soldiers  of  the  war. 
His  motive  is  commendable,  and  to  gratify  his  honorable  desire  does 
not  harm  the  government,  and  is  only  an  act  of  simple  justice  fairly 
due  to  a  faithful  public  servant. 

A  complete  statement  of  the  facts  made  by  the  Hon.  Nathaniel  S. 
Berry,  the  war  governor  of  New  Hampshire,  who  still  survives  full  of 
years  and  honors,  and  also  a  war  department  memorandum  of  Decem 
ber  13,  1889,  are  made  a  part  of  this  report. 


102      SEVENTEENTH  NEIV  HAMPSHIRE   REGIMENT. 

The  bill  was  warmly  supported  by  both  the  senators 
from  New  Hampshire,  and  by  distinguished  senators  and 
representatives  from  all  parts  of  the  Union.  As  already 
stated,  it  passed  both  branches  of  congress  and  passed  them 
both  unanimously.  Great  credit  for  this  action  is  due  Sen 
ator  William  E.  Chandler  and  Ex-Senator  Henry  W.  Blair 
—the  latter  the  original  captain  of  one  of  the  Third  Dis 
trict  companies  in  the  Fifteenth  Regiment  and  then  major 
and  lieutenant-colonel  of  that  command  serving  with 
distinction  in  the  Port  Hudson  campaign. 

Senator  Chandler's  long  and  distinguished  public  career 
emphasized  the  value  of  his  cordial  support  of  the  measure, 
and  later  his  encouragement  and  aid  in  the  preparation  of 
this  history  while  reflecting  great  honor  upon  his  love  of 
impartial  justice,  has  secured  the  appreciation  and  regard 
of  the  Seventeenth  Infantry. 


CHAPTER   XXI. 

SEVENTEENTH  MEN  IN  THE  SECOND  REGIMENT  AND  AT 
GETTYSBURG. 

O,  why  the  deuce  should  I  repine 

And  be  an  ill-foreboder  ? 
I  'm  twenty-three,  and  five  feet  nine, 

I  '11  go  !  and  be  a  sodjer. 

Burns, 

It  was  a  pretty  severe  test  of  the  character  and  disposi 
tion  of  the  men  of  the  Seventeenth  to  witness  calmly  the 
disintegration  of  their  own  regiment,  and,  after  all  the 
promises  made,  to  be  forced  into  another  command  not  of 
their  own  choosing.  But  they  acquitted  themselves  like 
men,  and  showed  the  kind  of  stuff  they  were  made  of. 
Indeed,  the  Second  would  have  been  their  choice  under 
any  circumstances.  It  had  an  unsurpassed  record,  was 
composed  of  veterans  with  whom  they  quickly  fraternized, 
its  officers  were  distinguished  for  military  ability  and  ex 
perience,  and  our  men  were  received  with  open  arms  and 
a  true  spirit  of  comradeship.  So  that  when  the  regiment 
left  the  state,  May  18,  1863,  they  were  already  quite  at 
home  in  its  ranks ;  and  their  after  record  proves  them  to 
have  been  in  every  way  entitled  to  a  place  among  the 
best  for  deeds  of  bravery  and  daring  in  the  old  Second, 
which  was  filled  with  heroes.  It  was  barely  six  weeks  after 
the  forming  of  this  alliance  that  these  men  received  their 
baptism  of  fire  in  the  historic  Battle  of  Gettysburg. 

Gettysburg  ranks  among  the  decisive  battles  of  the 
world.  It  turned  the  tide  of  victory,  called  a  halt  to  the 
invading  forces  of  Lee,  sent  him  back  to  Virginia  with  an 
army  so  crippled  and  decimated  that  it  never  recovered 


104      SEVENTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE   REGIMENT. 

from  the  blow,  and  restored  the  wavering  confidence  of  the 
North,  which  by  successive  reverses  was  greatly  in  need  of 
just  such  a  result.  It  was  an  object  lesson  in  military 
tactics,  an  exhibition  of  superior  military  knowledge  and 
scientific  combinations,  by  experienced  commanders ;  but, 
above  all,  of  personal  courage,  indomitable  valor,  and 
heroic  self-sacrifice  on  the  part  of  both  officers  and  men. 
In  the  three  days'  fight  our  losses  were,  in  killed,  2,834; 
wounded,  13,709;  missing,  6,643 — a  total  of  23,186.  The 
Confederate  losses  from  same  causes  were  31,621. 

Colonel  Martin  A.  Haynes,  in  his  regimental  history, 
gives  a  graphic  description  of  the  record  made  for  itself  by 
the  New  Hampshire  Second  in  this  memorable  battle. 
The  following  extracts  are  but  a  fair  illustration  of  the 
entire  chapter,  as  it  appears  in  that  publication  : 

"Colonel  Bailey,  while  taking  a  view  from  a  point  of  observation 
near  the  Emmitsburg  road,  noted  the  rapid  advance  of  a  column  of 
massed  battalions.  He  watched  it  just  long  enough  to  determine  that 
it  was  a  genuine  column  of  attack  with  no  skirmishers  thrown  forward, 
and  that  it  was  pushing  directly  for  the  battery  the  Second  was  sup 
porting,  and  would  be  upon  it  in  a  very  few  minutes.  He  ran  with 
all  speed  to  General  Graham,  meeting  him  some  distance  to  the  rear  of 
the  Second,  gave  him  warning,  and  suggested  that  the  Second  should 
charge.  '  Yes,  for  God's  sake,  go  forward! '  replied  Graham. 

"  The  Second  came  to  their  feet  with  a  great  sigh  of  relief.  They 
had  begun  to  chafe  in  the  leash.  Despite  many  casualties,  there  were 
probably  more  than  three  hundred  men  still  left  to  'go  forward.1  No 
time  was  wasted  on  frills — only  a  moment  for  a  hasty  alignment. 
There  was  not  time  even  to  rally  Company  B  into  the  line,  and  most, 
if  not  all,  of  its  men  were  left  at  their  work  about  the  Wentz  house. 
Besides,  they  appeared  to  be  fully  engaged  just  then.  The  lieutenant 
in  command  of  the  battery  was  seen  to  be  spiking  his  guns,  indicating 
that  he  considered  them  as  good  as  lost.  He  was  not  acquainted  with 
his  supports.  It  is  safe  to  say  that  no  battery  commander  in  the  Third 
Corps  would  ever  have  done  that  so  long  as  he  had  the  Second  New 
Hampshire  with  him.  But  this  battery  had  been  very  nearly  silenced 
for  some  time  by  the  overpowering  rebel  fire  and  its  commander 
simply  lost  his  nerve. 


SEVENTEENTH  MEN  AT  GETTYSBURG.  105 

4  "  '  Forward!  guide  centre!'1  and  the  Second  was  off.  One  of  the 
battery  lieutenants  with  the  aid  of  a  corporal,  was  training  one  of  the 
guns  upon  the  head  of  the  advancing  column,  and  just  as  the  Second 
passed  the  double-shotted  piece  was  discharged.  Simultaneously 
came  the  order  to  charge,  and  with  a  roar  of  defiance  from  three  hun 
dred  throats,  the  Second  went  tearing  down  the  slope.  They  did  not 
have  to  hunt  for  the  enemy — there  he  was,  right  before  them.  The 
rebels  halted  a  moment,  in  dazed  surprise  at  this  devil's  whirlwind 
which  had  been  let  loose  upon  them.  It  seemed  to  be  a  halt  involun 
tary  and  without  orders.  Those  ragged  veterans  saw  it  <  meant  busi 
ness.1  The  savage,  confident  dash  of  the  charge  was  suggestive  of  a 
heavy  support  behind,  and  there  was  not  much  time  for  them  to  stop 
and  think  the  matter  over.  They  did  what  any  other  body  of  troops 
would  have  done  under  like  circumstances — about  faced,  and  went 
back  as  fast  as  they  could  run  for  a  new  start. 

"On  went  the  Second,  in  a  southwest  course,  about  one  hundred 
and  fifty  yards,  through  the  peach  orchard,  its  right  wing  out  at  its 
angle  and  partly  across  the  Emmitsburg  road.  A  sharp  fire  was  main 
tained  upon  those  fleeing  rebels  until  they  reached  a  little  depression 
in  the  fields  and  piled  into  it  out  of  sight.  There  was  some  difficulty 
in  halting  the  Second.  Its  blood  was  up,  and  many  of  the  men 
seemed  to  think  that  now  was  the  time  to  go  into  Richmond.  But 
they  were  at  length  cooled  down,  and  the  regiment  was  quickly  moved 
a  little  to  the  left,  along  the  line  of  a  rail  fence  at  the  southerly  end  of 
the  orchard,  its  right  resting  on  the  road. 

"  The  fire  was  now  directed,  at  the  left  oblique,  upon  a  body  of  troops 
about  three  hundred  and  fifty  yards  to  the  front  and  left,  who  were 
moving  by  their  right  flank,  in  two  lines,  nearly  parallel  with  the  front 
of  the  Second.  At  this  time  the  Third  Maine  came  tearing  down  the 
slope,  lined  up  on  the  left  of  the  Second,  and  joined  in  the  firing; 
while  the  Sixty-eighth  Pennsylvania  came  in  upon  the  right  of  the 
Second,  forming  at  right  angles  with  its  line,  facing  west,  along  the 
Emmitsburg  road.  Many  regiments  fought  in  a  peach  orchard  at 
Gettysburg,  but  the  three  above  enumerated  were  the  only  ones  who 
formed  in  a  line  in  '  the"1  peach  orchard  of  that  day. 

********** 

"Following  the  Second's  charge,  there  came  fora  brief  time  a  lull 
in  the  fire  of  the  rebel  artillery.  The  rebels  were  evidently  sizing  up 
and  getting  the  range  of  the  new  disposition  of  troops  which  had  been 
thrust  forward  in  their  faces,  and  Barksdale  was  meantime  reorganizing 
his  somewhat  disordered  column  of  attack.  Then  came  the  storm. 


IO6       SEVENTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE   REGIMENT. 

Every  rebel  gun  was  let  loose  until  the  peach  orchard  seemed  to  be 
almost  moving  in  the  windage  of  hurtling  metal.  Under  cover  of  this 
tremendous  fire,  the  final,  decisive  assault  was  made  by  Barksdale. 
Formed  by  battalions  in  mass  in  line  of  battle,  his  troops  swept  steadily 
forward.  From  their  direction  it  was  to  be  seen  that  their  right,  unless 
checked,  would  enter  the  peach  orchard  somewhere  on  the  line  held  by 
the  Sixty-eighth  Pennsylvania.  The  Second  directed  its  fire,  at  the 
right  oblique,  full  upon  the  advancing  column,  but  it  pushed  forward 
with  magnificent  determination,  its  gray  masses  rising  and  falling  with 
the  inequalities  of  the  ground,  now  sinking  into  a  depression,  and  then 
bursting  over  a  swell,  but  always  onward.  The  Sixty-eighth,  which 
had  been  losing  heavily,  withdrew  up  the  slope  before  the  impact  came, 
and  immediately  after,  the  Third  Maine  also  fell  back.  The  charging 
column,  its  front  now  blazing  with  the  fire  of  small  arms,  advanced 
across  the  unprotected  right  flank  of  the  Second. 

"  The  subsequent  evolutions  of  the  regiment  could  only  have  been 
performed  by  troops  of  superlative  discipline  and  nerve.  The  regiment 
was  about  faced  and  retired,  making  a  change  of  front  to  the  rear  while 
marching.  Half  way  through  the  peach  orchard,  it  halted  and  main 
tained  a  sharp  fire  until  again  overtopped,  when  the  movement  was 
repeated,  bringing  the  regiment  over  the  crest  and  almost  directly 
facing  the  Emmitsburg  road.  Here  there  were  a  few  moments  of  very 
close  and  very  ugly  work,  when,  being  entirely  unsupported,  the  regi 
ment  was  drawn  back  a  short  distance,  under  cover  somewhat  of  the 
eastern  slope  of  the  ridge. 

********** 

"  It  was  close,  stubborn,  and  deadly  work — this  last  stand  of  the 
Second.  The  Compte  de  Paris  well  characterized  the  peach  orchard  fight 
by  a  single  word,  '  murderous.'  The  Third  Maine  and  Sixty-eighth 
Pennsylvania  made  a  gallant  attempt  to  come  to  the  Second's  support, 
charging  up  into  the  terrible  fire  to  prolong  the  line  upon  the  right ; 
but  it  was  too  hot  for  them,  and  they  did  not  reach  the  position. 
********** 

"  Nearly  three  fifths  of  the  Second  Regiment  were  down,  and  the 
men  still  left,  planted  amid  their  dead  and  wounded  comrades,  were 
standing  up  to  their  work  as  steadily  and  unflinchingly  as  though  not  a 
man  had  been  hit.  Had  occasion  required,  they  were  in  the  spirit  to 
stop  right  there  until  three  fifths  of  those  yet  on  their  feet  had  been 
knocked  over.  But  it  was  only  a  waste  of  lives  for  a  handful  of  men 
to  remain  alone  and  unsupported  in  such  a  slaughter-pen.  The  Second 
was  about  faced,  and  in  regimental  line  moved  down  the  slope  in  per- 


SEVENTEENTH  MEN  AT  GETTYSBURG.  107 

feet  order,  and  taking  with  it  such  of  its  wounded  as  could  be  carried 
along.  Approaching  the  new  line,  where  several  batteries  were  in 
position,  the  regiment  broke  into  column  from  its  left  (now  become  the 
right)  and  passed  to  the  east,  left  in  front,  receiving,  as  it  moved  along 
the  line  of  the  artillery,  round  upon  round  of  cheers  from  the  battery 
men,  who  had  been  interested  spectators  of  the  closing  scenes  at  the 

peach  orchard. 

********** 

"  The  Second  took  three  hundred  and  fifty-four  officers  and  enlisted 
men  into  the  fight.  Its  loss  as  officially  reported  was  one  hundred 
and  ninety-three.  Three  commissioned  officers  were  killed  and  eigh 
teen  wounded — four,  mortally — but  three  escaping  unhurt  out  of  twenty- 
four.  Out  of  three  hundred  and  thirty  enlisted  men,  seventeen  were 
reported  killed,  one  hundred  and  nineteen  wounded,  and  thirty-six 
missing.  The  mortally  wounded  swelled  the  Second's  death  roll  to 
forty-seven — over  thirteen  per  cent,  of  the  number  engaged." 

A  fitting  termination  to  Colonel  Haynes's  narrative  is  the 
final  paragraph  in  Colonel  Bailey's  official  report  of  the 
battle  : 

"  This  battalion  entered  the  fight  with  a  firm  determination  to  do  or 
die,  and  the  long  lists  of  fallen  comrades  already  submitted  will  show 
how  well  that  resolution  was  kept.  When  all  did  so  well,  it  would  be 
invidious  to  make  comparisons.  Let  it  suffice  to  say  they  did  their 
part  as  became  the  sons  of  the  old  Granite  State.  P^or  our  fallen 
braves  who  have  so  gloriously  perished  fighting  for  their  country  we 
drop  a  comrade's  tear, — while  we  would  extend  our  heartfelt  sympathy 
to  those  dear  ones  far  away,  who  find  the  ties  of  kindred  and  friends 
thus  rudely  severed,  and  for  those  who  must  suffer  untold  agony  and 
pain  through  long  weeks  of  convalescence,  our  earnest  sympathy,  yet 
leaving  them  to  the  watchful  care  of  Him  who  will  not  prove  unmindful 
of  their  necessities.11 

A  newspaper  correspondent  of  the  period  already  quoted 
in  preceding  pages,  wrote  : 

"  In  the  Battle  of  Gettysburg,  this  [Second]  regiment  which  had 
never  flinched  on  any  battlefield  sustained  its  noble  reputation.  And 
all  honor  to  the  Seventeenth  boys  !  They  went  into  the  thickest  of 
the  fight  with  the  bravery  of  veterans.  Strange  as  it  may  seem,  these 
men,  who  had  never  been  under  fire  before,  sustained  a  more  severe 
loss,  proportionately,  than  any  other  company.11 


I08      SEVENTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE   REGIMENT. 

The  colonel  of  the  old  Seventeenth  happening  to  be  in 
Washington  during  the  autumn  of  '63  was  present  by  invi 
tation  as  a  staff  officer  and  member  of  the  presidential 
party  at  the  consecration  of  the  Gettysburg  cemetery. 
After  the  ceremonies  had  been  completed,  riding  around 
the  field  he  found  and  brought  back  from  Sherfey's  peach 
orchard  an  exploded  shell,  fired  from  the  rebel  lines  at  the 
men  of  the  Seventeenth.  This  shell  now  does  duty  as  a 
paper  weight  upon  the  colonel's  library  table. 

We  cannot  otherwise  so  well  close  this  chapter  as  by 
quoting  the  prophetic  words  of  President  Lincoln  : 

*'  P'ourscore  and  seven  years  ago  our  fathers  brought  forth  upon  this 
continent  a  new  nation,  conceived  in  liberty,  and  dedicated  to  the 
proposition  that  all  men  are  created  equal.  Now,  we  are  engaged  in  a 
great  civil  war,  testing  whether  that  nation,  or  any  nation,  so  conceived 
and  so  dedicated,  can  long  endure.  We  are  met  on  a  great  battlefield 
of  that  war.  We  have  come  to  dedicate  a  portion  of  that  field  as  a 
final  resting  place  for  those  who  here  gave  their  lives  that  our  nation 
might  live.  It  is  fitting  that  we  should  do  this  ;  but,  in  a  larger  sense, 
we  cannot  hallow  this  ground.  The  brave  men,  living  and  dead,  who 
struggled  here,  have  consecrated  it  far  beyond  anything  we  can  do. 
The  world  will  little  note,  nor  long  remember,  what  we  say  here ;  but 
it  can  never  forget  what  they  did  here.  It  is  for  us,  the  living,  rather 
to  dedicate  ourselves  to  the  unfinished  work  which  they,  who  fought 
here,  have  thus  far  so  nobly  advanced  ;  to  consecrate  ourselves  to  the 
great  task  remaining;  and  to  gather  from  the  graves  of  these  honored 
dead  increased  devotion  to  that  cause  for  which  they  gave  their  lives. 
Here  let  us  resolve  that  they  shall  not  have  died  in  vain  ;  that  this 
nation  shall,  under  God,  have  a  new  birth  of  freedom  ;  and  that  govern 
ment  tf/the  people,  by  the  people,  and  for  the  people  shall  not  perish 
forever  from  the  earth.'1 


CHAPTER  XXII. 
COMRADE  WHIPPLE'S  DIARY. 

Then  gather  'round  my  comrades 

And  hear  a  soldier  tell 
How  full  of  honor  was  the  day 

When  every  man  did  well. 

Tuppfr. 

Comrade  Albert  F.  Whipple  of  Lancaster,  who  as  prin 
cipal  musician  of  the  Seventeenth  organized  its  excellent 
regimental  band,  voluntarily  joined  the  Second  at  the  time 
of  consolidation,  was  appointed  band  master,  and  became 
closely  identified  in  all  the  Second's  movements  until 
mustered  out  with  the  Seventeenth  contingent  when  their 
term  of  service  expired.  He  has  kindly  prepared  for  use 
in  the  compilation  of  this  history  a  copy  of  his  diary,  kept 
day  by  day  in  field  and  camp,  from  which  the  following 
extracts  are  taken  : 

ik  When  the  Civil  War  began,  and  the  rebels  fired  on  Fort  Sumter  I 
had  no  desire  to  join  the  army.  I  was  offered  the  position  as  band 
master  in  the  Fifth  New  Hampshire  by  Colonel  Cross,  and  he  urged  me 
quite  hard  to  take  it,  but  I  declined.  But  after  Colonel  Kent  received 
his  appointment  to  recruit  the  Seventeenth  with  a  company  from  Lan 
caster  and  vicinity,  I  was  anxious  to  go  with  them,  but  should  never 
have  thought  of  going  under  any  other  consideration  than  with  Colonel 
Kent  and  our  other  friends.  I  enlisted  in  the  Seventeenth,  Oct.  15, 
1862,  as  a  musician,  and  received  orders  to  enlist  a  band.  Enlisted 
before  going  into  camp,  Perkins  of  Gorham,  George  Dustin,  Joseph 
Dustin,  Daniel  C,  Bean,  and  Jesse  Tuttle,  all  of  Berlin,  Henry  Love- 
joy  and  Cyrus  E.  Burnham  of  Littleton,  and  George  H.  Watson  of 
Lancaster.  Enlisted  a  Mr.  Bates  soon  after  going  into  camp.  I 
received  my  warrant  as  band  master  Nov.  22,  1862,  and  Cyrus  E. 


IIO      SEVENTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE   REGIMENT. 

Burnham  his  as  band  sergeant  same  date.  On  the  same  day  we  were 
mustered  into  the  U.  S.  service.  Upon  return  to  camp,  April  ist, 
enlisted  Charles  E.  Mclntire  of  Lancaster  as  a  member  of  the  band. 
Made  good  improvement  while  in  camp  up  to  the  time  of  our  transfer 
to  the  Second  Regiment,  April  16,  1863.  Colonel  Bailey  detailed  from 
the  Second  five  new  members.  They  were  good  musicians. 

"  Broke  camp  and  left  Concord  for  Washington  the  last  of  May. 
Our  first  halt  was  Worcester.  Band  played  some  very  choice  pieces 
and  were  heartily  cheered.  The  next  stopping  place  was  Philadelphia, 
where  the  band  headed  the  regiment  and  marched  from  one  depot  to 
the  other,  quite  a  long  distance.  Our  regiment  created  quite  an  excite 
ment,  a  large  crowd  of  people  following  us,  and  the  band  received 
many  compliments,  but  many  were  the  regrets  of  the  band  that  we 
were  not  at  the  head  of  the  Seventeenth,  as  we  expected  to  be  when 
we  enlisted.  In  Baltimore  the  band  played  in  the  streets  and  the  crowd 
very  much  excited  called  for  '  John  Brown,'  saying  '  Give  it  to  us  loud  and 
strong.'  We  reached  Washington  and  went  into  camp  on  Capitol 
Hill. 

"June\\i  1863. — Broke  camp  in  the  morning  and  took  boat  for 
Acquia  Creek,  then  cars  for  Stoneman  Station  where  we  camped  for 
the  night. 

«'  June  12. — Broke  camp  at  5  a.  m.,  and  marched  fourteen  miles, 
halting  at  noon  ;  traveled  miles  without  seeing  a  house.  We  find  many 
dead  horses  on  the  roadside.  It  is  disagreeable  on  the  road  after  an 
army  has  passed. 

"  June  13. — Marched  twenty-five  miles;  went  into  camp  at  Rappa- 
hannock  Station.  It  is  hard  to  get  water.  I  think  many  times  I 
would  give  anything  for  a  drink  of  our  spring  water  at  home ! 

"  June  14. — It  is  a  common  practice  of  the  soldiers  to  go  out  forag 
ing.  Some  of  these  parties  drove  a  number  of  pigs  into  the  opening 
near  the  camp,  and  the  soldiers,  arming  themselves  with  clubs,  tried  to 
capture  them.  The  pigs  were  wild  ;  but  they  managed  to  get  them. 
We  have  to  be  very  still  because  we  are  on  one  side  of  the  Rappahan- 
nock  and  the  rebels  on  the  other,  almost  within  speaking  distance.  It 
begins  to  look  like  a  battle.  There  seems  to  be  a  movement  of  the 
whole  army.  Anyone  at  home  that  never  saw  the  movements  of  an 
army  cannot  think  what  an  undertaking  it  is  to  move  such  a  large 
number  of  men. 

"  June  24. — Camped  near  a  small  house  and  fine  well  of  water.  I 
went  over  to  the  well  to  fill  my  canteen  and  found  the  house  filled  with 
-soldiers.  I  went  to  the  door  and  looked  in;  saw  an  old  lady  and  a 


COMRADE    WHIPPLE'S  DIARY.  m 

middle-aged  lady — it  was  their  home.  The  soldiers  were  taking  every 
thing  they  could  from  the  house — even  bread  from  the  oven  the  ladies 
were  baking  for  their  own  use.  I  went  back  and  told  Lieut. -Col  Carr, 
and  we  came  to  the  house  together.  As  we  entered  a  soldier  came 
down  from  the  chamber  with  a  small  ham.  The  old  lady  tried  to  take 
it  from  him.  '  Why  do  you  come  and  rob  us  lone  women  and  take  all 
we  have  to  live  on  ?  '  she  said.  The  soldier  replied  that  he  was  hun 
gry,  and  the  woman  answered  :  '  God  forbid  you  from  fighting  for  a 
government  that  will  not  feed  you,  and  robs  us  of  what  little  we  have. 
Colonel  Carr  then  stepped  forward  and  said,  '  Hold  on  !  I  do  n't  say 
you  shall  not  have  the  ham,  but  let  us  talk  it  over.  Have  you  not  got 
a  mother,  sister,  or  some  relative  at  home?  How  would  you  like  to 
have  an  army  do  to  your  relatives  at  home  as  you  are  doing  here?1 
The  soldier  got  right  out  and  then  Colonel  Carr  talked  to  the  other 
soldiers  and  told  me  to  go  to  the  adjutant  and  have  him  send  a  guard 
to  protect  the  house. 

'*  7Hfy  2- — Broke  camp  at  four  in  the  morning,  but  did  not  move 
until  daylight.  Marched  very  fast  five  miles  and  halted  for  half  an 
hour.  Arrived  early  in  Gettysburg.  Brigade  formed  in  line  of  battle. 
Skirmishing  very  near  the  road  we  came  in  on  and  in  a  short  time  the 
rebels  occupied  it.  Not  very  severe  fighting  until  seven  o'clock,  and 
then  it  was  terrific.  Our  regiment  lost  heavily  during  the  day  and 
looks  bad  !  We  have  lost  seven  officers  and  one  half  of  the  men  in 
killed,  wounded,  and  missing,  but  they  did  their  duty,  as  they  always 
have  done  before.  The  band  played  to  the  brigade  at  dusk  and  was 
ordered  to  play  national  airs.  When  the  orders  are  given  to  load,  I 
feel  as  if  I  must  go  with  them,  and  1  went  to  Colonel  Bailey  and  told 
him  so.  He  replied,  '  Wait,  and  if  they  need  you  it  will  be  time  then 
for  you  to  go  in.'  Our  regiment  walked  at  the  head  of  the  brigade  on 
to  the  battlefield  that  day.  The  brigade  commander  overheard  my 
conversation  with  Colonel  Bailey  in  regard  to  my  going  into  battle,  and 
ordered  me  to  take  the  band  to  the  rear  and  to  hold  ourselves  in  readi 
ness  to  play  when  they  made  a  charge. 

"  J"fy  3- — Third  corps  was  relieved  by  the  Sixth  last  night  and  fell 
to  the  rear.  Moved  to  the  front  early  this  morning.  The  Third  corps 
was  double-quicked  into  position  to  support  a  battery  under  a  very 
heavy  fire.  The  band  was  at  the  head  of  the  brigade  and  remained 
until  the  brigade  formed  to  make  a  charge,  when,  having  nothing  but 
their  instruments,  they  were  ordered  to  the  rear. 

"  Juty  4- — Rebels  commenced  their  retreat. 

"  July  5. —  Strolled  over  the  battlefield;   find  men  and  horses  piled  all 


112      SEVENTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE   REGIMENT. 

together  in  places,  every  soldier  lying  on  the  battlefield  has  been 
robbed  by  the  sharks  who  follow  the  army  for  that  purpose.  Take 
another  stroll  over  the  battlefield  finding  one  of  the  dead  soldiers,  and 
a  letter  by  his  side  from  his  mother  and  his  sister,  congratulating  him 
on  his  success  in  escaping  with  his  life  thus  far,  and  saying  they  should 
look  forward  for  the  time  when  he  would  return  home  and  that  that 
would  be  the  happiest  day  of  their  lives. 

"July  n. — The  officers  and  men  are  very  anxious  to  meet  the 
enemy  again.  They  think  we  have  them  where  we  can  take  them,  and 
want  it  to  rain  hard  so  the  rebels  cannot  get  over  the  river.  The  sol 
diers  are  getting  tired  of  the  war  and  think  if  they  can  capture  Lee's 
army  the  war  must  close  very  soon  and  they  can  go  home  to  their 
families  and  friends.  If  the  soldiers  could  be  led  on  now,  I  think  there 
is  no  equal  number  that  could  stand  before  them. 

"  July  16. — I  am  almost  worn  out — severe  dysentery.  My  boots 
begin  to  give  out.  Many  of  the  men  are  barefoot  and  very  ragged. 
We  can  draw  no  clothing. 

"  Jufy  20. — Our  cavalry  had  a  little  brush  with  the  rebels,  but  the 
rebels  ran.  Sick,  and  feel  as  though  I  must  fall  behind,  but  it  is  not 
safe,  for  I  do  not  wish  to  go  to  Richmond  with  the  rebels. 

"  July  22. — This  town  is  called  Piedmont.  After  supper  the  band 
was  ordered  to  corps  headquarters.  Gen.  French  is  in  command.  He 
occupies  a  house  which  belonged  to  rebel  Col.  Ashbury,  killed  in 
Gen.  Banks1  retreat.  It  is  a  fine  house, — built  after  the  form  of  the 
White  House  at  Washington.  Several  women  were  present,  most  of 
them  rebels. 

"  July  23. — Marched  through  Fairville.  Some  quite  decent  looking 
buildings  but  most  of  them  look  bad.  Many  of  the  houses  are  built  of 
a  flat  rock  very  plenty  in  Virginia.  The  stone  looks  very  much  like 
the  stone  laid  in  walls  between  Lancaster  and  Whitefield.  We  halted 
three  miles  outside  this  town.  Cavalry  had  passed  by  with  rebel  pris 
oners,  and  halted  at  foot  of  Manassas  Gap.  Army  moves  as  though 
there  was  a  battle  near.  A  general  movement  at  3  o'clock.  Battle 
has  commenced.  General  Mead  is  on  the  field  ;  hospitals  are  prepared  ; 
ambulances  are  ready  for  the  wounded  and  everything  indicates  a  hard 
fight.  At  4.30,  heavy  infantry  firing;  our  forces  advance  driving 
the  rebels.  A  rebel  battery  opens.  At  dark  all  is  quiet  along  the  line. 
The  rebels  seem  to  occupy  the  best  position  on  the  highest  ground. 
Several  rebels  captured. 

"  July  24- — Considerable  picket  firing.  Our  troops  in  line  of  battle. 
Our  troops  advance  driving  the  rebels  before  them.  Our  army  follows 


COMRADE    W NIPPLE'S  DIARY. 


them  to  Front  Royal  and  returns  at  4  p.   m.     It  proved  to  be  a  part 
of  rebel  General  E  wall's  force. 

"All  the   women  here  must  be  rebels  if  you  can  judge  from  their 
looks.     The  fields  are  covered  with  blackberries.     They  are  very  nice. 
It  seems  hard  to  look  upon  this  country  and  see  the  destruction  caused 
by  the  army.     Railroad  tracks  taken  up  and  every  rail   is  crooked.      If 
a  farmer  has  a  horse,  cow,  sheep,  pigs  or  poultry  the  army  takes  it  and 
uses  it  without  asking  for  it.     I  see  stacks  of  wheat  raised  last  year  and 
not  yet  threshed.     Fields  of  grain  are   standing,  suffering    to   be   cut. 
Many  fields  of  grain  are  tramped 
down    by    the    army    and    de 
stroyed.     Farmers  have  nothing 
to  encourage  them.    If  they  har 
vest  their  produce  they  are  liable 
to  have  it  taken  from  them.     I 
cannot  blame  them  for  not  lik 
ing  the  army.     It  deals  destruc 
tion   wherever    it    goes.     Many 
will  say  that  the  people  are  poor 
and  ignorant,  but  we  can   look 
at  home  and  see  how  many  we 
have  about  us  that  do  precisely 
as  their  leaders  tell  them  to  do. 
It  is  easier  to  see  faults  in  others 
than  it  is  in  ourselves. 

"  My  boots  are  getting  very 
bad.  I  am  afraid  1  shall  have 
to  go  barefoot.  I  cannot  get  any 
more  at  present.  We  came  near 
meeting  with  an  accident  today. 
While  the  regiment  was  in  ad 
vance,  Colonel  Bailey  returned  with  his  blacksmith  and  took  possession 
of  a  shop  to  have  his  horse  shod.  While  there  the  owner  got  him  into 
his  house,  gave  him  a  dinner  and  tried  to  detain  him.  Our  infantry 
withdrew  and  left  the  colonel  behind.  The  rebel  cavalry  followed  our 
cavalry  and  Colonel  Bailey  was  cut  off.  But  there  happened  to  be  one 
spare  road,  and  the  colonel  being  well  mounted  just  barely  escaped. 
Would  have  been  a  prisoner  if  detained  three  minutes  longer. 

"  July  26. — The  Second  Regiment  has  received  orders  detaching  it 
from  the  Jersey  brigade  and  is  to  return  to  Washington.     The  Twelfth 
New  Hampshire  joined  us  and  afterwards  the  Fifth. 
8 


ALBERT  F.  WHIFFLE. 


114      SEVENTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE   REGIMENT. 

"  Juty  3°- — Band  played  through  the  city  of  Washington.  Started 
for  Point  Lookout. 

"  J"ty  31- 1'oiut  Lookout  is  turned  into  a  rebel  prison  camp,  and 

General  Marston  is  in  command  of  the  brigade  in  charge,  of  which  the 
Second  is  a  part.  Our  band  does  duty  daily  for  General  Marston's 
brigade. 

"•Sept.  20. — Governor  Gilmore  and  others  arrived  and  visited  the 
camp,  then  went  to  General  Marston's  headquarters  and  speeches  were 
made  by  Governor  Gilmore,  Hale,  Clark,  Foster  and  Patterson.  The 
band  gave  a  concert  and  played  between  the  speeches. 

"Sept.  21.  Received  orders  for  the  Seventeenth  to  be  in  readi 
ness  to  go  on  the  next  boat.  The  regiment  feels  very  much  better. 
We  are  to  leave  for  Washington  in  the  morning.  Band  gave  a  fare 
well  concert  at  Colonel  Bailey's  headquarters  in  the  evening.  The 
band  feels  under  great  obligations  to  Colonel  Bailey  for  his  great  kind 
ness  and  friendship  during  our  connection  with  the  Second. 

«•  Sept.  22. — After  parade  the  Seventeenth  marched  to  the  boat  and 
left  for  Washington.  This  was  the  last  time  the  Seventeenth  band 
ever  played  together.  Arrived  in  Washington  after  dark  and  stopped 
at  the  soldiers'  retreat. 

"  Sept.  25. — Arrived  in  Boston  at  6  a.  m.  and  in  Concord  at  8  p.  m. 

"  Oct.  8. — Lieutenant  Cooper  arrived  with  mustering  out  papers  and 
Oct.  9  we  were  mustered  out  of  the  service  and  discharged.  Thus 
ends  the  Seventeenth  Regiment,  New  Hampshire  Volunteers.11 

Comrade  Whipple  is  now  living  in  Everett,  Mass.,  a  con 
firmed  invalid,  suffering  severely  from  rheumatism  con 
tracted  in  the  campaigns  of  which  he  has  given  such  a 
vivid  description. 


CHAPTER    XXIII. 
MUSTERED  OUT. 

"  Through  the  blood  sweat  and  pain  of  war 
We  grow  more  free,  we  grow  more  true, 
And  brighter,  clearer,  lovelier  far 

Shall  shine  the  red,  the  white,  the  blue." 

Thus  the  men  of  the  Seventeenth,  who  were  mustered  in 
the  Second  Regiment,  served  in  that  command  all  through 
the  hardest  fought  and  most  decisive  campaign  of  the 
entire  war.  From  the  outset  they  behaved  like  veterans, 
well-mated  with  the  old  campaigners  of  the  adopted  or 
ganization,  equally  capable  and  willing  to  perform  any 
service  required  or  hold  their  own  on  the  battlefield.  It 
has  ever  been  the  pride  of  their  officers  and  companions 
in  the  Seventeenth  to  point  to  the  record  they  made  ;  it 
has  ever  been  an  honor  to  the  men  to  have  that  record 
exhibited.  Gettysburg  raised  up  many  heroes;  many  regi 
ments  won  renown  on  that  decisive  field  ;  but  among  them 
all,  none  surpassed  the  Second  New  Hampshire  in  courage 
and  valor  and  no  men  in  the  Second  sustained  their  part 
better  than  the  gallant  contingent  from  the  Third  Congres 
sional  District,  which  came  through  the  Seventeenth. 

These  men  were  mustered  November  13,  1862,  for  nine 
months,  and  were  entitled  to  a  discharge  August  13,  1863  ; 
but  the  "  exigencies  of  the  service"  appeared  to  require 
their  detention,  and  it  was  not  until  October  9  that  they 
were  finally  mustered  out. 

Upon  bidding  them  farewell,  Colonel  Bailey  issued  the 
following  order : 


Il6      SEVENTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE    REGIMENT. 

HEADQUARTERS  SECOND  N.  H.  V., 
DIST.  ST.  MARY'S,  POINT  LOOKOUT,  MD., 

September  22,  1863. 
General  Order  No.  14. 

SOLDIERS  OF  THE  SEVENTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE  VOLUNTEERS: 
You  are  about  to  part  with  your  comrades  of  the  Second  for  the  more 
peaceful  and  happier  atmosphere  of  your  domestic  firesides.  Aroused 
bv  the  necessity  of  your  country,  you  assembled  under  a  gallant  and 
accomplished  leader,  with  justly  high  hopes  to  lead  with  him  a  brilliant 
career,  carving  bright  honors  from  the  field  of  battle  with  which  to 
wreathe  the  proud  banners  of  your  regiment;  but  these  cherished 
anticipations  were  not  to  be  realized. 

After  months  of  uncertainty,  in  obedience  to  orders  from  the  Honora 
ble  Secretary  of  War,  the  Seventeenth  and  Second  New  Hampshire 
Regiments  were  consolidated  on  the  sixteenth  day  of  April,  since 
which  time  you  have  labored  patiently  and  harmoniously. 

You  had  no  choice  in  your  disposition — you  were  not  the  electors  of 
place.  Yet  though  not  sent  to  battle  under  the  most  favorable  circum 
stances,  you  have  comported  yourselves  as  men  should,  and  have  se 
cured  the  respect  and  friendship  of  your  companions  and  officers. 

Your  term  of  service,  though  short,  has  been  eventful.  You  will 
return  to  the  quiet  of  your  pleasant  homes  with  the  proud  satisfaction 
that  your  career  embraced  participation  in  one  of  the  most  arduous 
campaigns  and  the  hardest  fought  and  most  glorious  battle  in  its 
results  of  any  of  this  war.  Called  to  sustain  a  part  which  tested  your 
patriotism  and  valor,  the  ordeal  prepared  for  you  was  the  occupancy  of 
the  most  exposed  position.  During  that  terrible  contest  you  stood 
firmly,  shoulder  to  shoulder,  with  the  familiars  of  fifteen  battles,  fight 
ing  as  valiantly.  Ten  of  your  comrades  sleep  where  no  sound  shall 
awaken  them  till  the  reveille  of  the  angel  band  summons  them  to  join 
the  ranks  of  that  host  of  hosts  whose  enlistment  is  forever  and  ever. 
I  would  thank  you  for  your  prompt,  brave,  and  efficient  performance 
of  your  duty  ;  your  respect  and  cheerful  obedience  of  all  orders,  which 
has  been  your  conduct  uniformly  during  the  period  I  have  had  the 
honor  to  be  connected  with  you  in  the  capacity  of  commander. 

You  return  to  your  homes  with  some  pleasant  reminiscences  mingled 
with  your  recollection  of  toil,  hardship,  and  clanger,  ere  long  to  be 
followed  by  your  remaining  comrades,  who,  I  trust,  are  soon  to  wit 
ness  the  death  of  that  hydra — rebellion — and  be  permitted  to  assume 

the  garb  of  peace. 

ED.  L.  BAILEY,  Col.  id  N.  H.  V. 
JOHN  D.  COOPER,  Adjutant. 


MUSTERED   OUT.  117 

In  drawing  to  a  close  this  all  too  imperfect  record  of 
some  events  connected  with  the  great  Civil  War,  it  may  be 
of  interest  to  record  for  future  reference  the  name  of  the 
colonel,  first  in  command  of  each  New  Hampshire  regi 
mental  organization.  The  list  is  as  follows :  (Those  still 
living  are  indicated  by  a  star  prefixed  to  the  name.) 

First  Regiment,  MASON  W.  TAPPAN.  Died  October  24, 
1886. 

Second  Regiment,  OILMAN  MARSTON.  Died  July  3, 
1890. 

Third  Regiment,  ENOCH  Q.  FELLOWS.  Died  May  6, 
1897. 

Fourth  Regiment,  THOMAS  J.  WHIFFLE.  Died  Decem- 
ber2i,  1889. 

Fifth  Regiment,  EDWARD  E.  CROSS.  Killed  in  the 
Battle  of  Gettysburg,  July  2,  1863. 

Sixth  Regiment,  NELSON  CONVERSE.  Died  April  27, 
1894. 

Seventh  Regiment,  HALDIMAN  S.  PUTNAM.  Killed  at 
Fort  Wagner,  July  18,  1863. 

Eighth  Regiment,  *  HAWKES  FEARING,  JR. 

Ninth  Regiment,  ENOCH  Q.  FELLOWS,  from  June  14  to 
November  21,  1862,  *  HERBERT  B.  TITUS. 

Tenth  Regiment,  MICHAEL  T.  DONOHOE.  Died  May 
26,  1895. 

Eleventh  Regiment,  WALTER  HARRIMAN.  Died  July 
25,  1884. 

Twelfth  Regiment,  JOSEPH  H.  POTTER.  Died  Decem 
ber  i,  1892. 

Thirteenth  Regiment,  AARON  F.  STEVENS.  Died  May 
10,  1887. 

Fourteenth  Regiment,  ROBERT  WILSON.  Died  April  8, 
1870. 

Fifteenth  Regiment,  *  JOHN  W.  KINGMAN. 


Il8      SEVENTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE  REGIMENT. 

Sixteenth  Regiment,  JAMES  PIKE.     Died  July  26,  1895. 
Seventeenth  Regiment,  *  HENRY  O.  KENT. 
Eighteenth  Regiment,  *  THOMAS  L.  LIVERMORE. 
First  Regiment  Heavy  Artillery,  *  CHARLES  H.  LONG, 
First  Regiment  Volunteer  Cavalry,  JOHN  L.  THOMP 
SON.     Died  January  i,  1888. 


WEIRS  MEMORIAL  STONE. 


>J  ,  I  I  7  ,  'J  f 
•J  ,\  LI  f  'J  •'•  ^ 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 
IN  MEM  OKI  AM. 

"  We  bow  to  heaven  that  willed  it  so, 
That  darkly  rules  the  fate  of  all, 
That  sends  the  respite  or  the  blow, 
That's  free  to  live  or  to  recall." 

Upon  the  memorial  stone  at  The  Weirs,  presented  by 
Comrade  Sanborn  of  the  Twelfth,  and  adopted  by  the  Vet 
erans'  Association  and  the  Grand  Army,  as  the  Sacred 
Cabala  to  commemorate  the  services  and  sacrifices  during 
the  war  of  the  various  New  Hampshire  organizations,  there 
appears,  in  due  sequence  with  the  other  commands,  cut 
deep  in  the  stone,  the  name  of  the  Seventeenth  Infantry. 
Together  the  Second  and  Seventeenth  "  labored  patiently 
and  harmoniously."  Together  they  "  stood  firmly,  shoul 
der  to  shoulder,"  on  the  field  of  battle.  Their  dead  were 
buried  side  by  side.  The  veterans  of  each  still  join  hands 
at  the  yearly  encampment,  and  thus  perpetuate  in  loving 
remembrance  the  heroic  deeds  of  these  two  bands  now  un 
ited  to  form  one  common  whole. 

Upon  the  return  of  the  Seventeenth  men  from  the  front, 
there  appeared  in  Colonel  Kent's  newspaper  the  following : 

IN  MEMORIAM. 

"  In  a  distant  city,  occupied  with  new  responsibilities,  the  editor  of 
this  paper,  for  the  first  time,  sees  a  partial  list  of  the  casualties  among 
the  men  of  the  Seventeenth  New  Hampshire  Regiment  transferred  to 
the  Second  and  participants  in  the  campaign  of  1863. 

"It  is  with  no  ordinary  feeling  of  interest  and  pride  that  he  has 
watched  the  progress  of  these  men,  once  under  his  immediate  com 
mand.  In  thought  he  has  shared  with  them  the  privations  of  camp 


I2O      SEVENTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE   REGIMENT. 

and  march,  and  in  thought  been  with  them  on  the  field.  At  the  expira 
tion  of  their  time  of  service,  it  is  but  a  slight  tribute  to  the  patriotism 
of  the  living  and  to  the  memory  of  the  gallant  dead,  to  bear  record  of 
their  consistent  patriotism  and  soldierly  career. 

"  He  feels  justified  in  doing  this,  for  he  has  never  learned  to  subdue 
the  keen  regret  with  which  he  and  his  brother  officers  were  obliged  to 
part  from  these  men,  enlisted  for  their  special  command,  or  to  feel  the 
error  which  occurred  when,  in  the  territory  assigned  for  this  regiment, 
eleven  hundred  volunteers  were  raised,  and  but  a  fraction  of  the  num 
ber  were  allowed  to  enter  the  camp;  and  that  those  who  did,  were, 
against  the  most  vigilant  efforts,  obliged,  by  the  urgency  of  the  times, 
to  take  service  elsewhere. 

"Nowhere  could  they  have  gone  better  than  into  the  regiment  that 
received  them.  The  final  order  of  the  colonel  discharging  them  is  a 
handsome  tribute  to  their  bearing  as  soldiers. 

"  Through  the  exhausting  campaign  of  July,  these  men  did  their  full 
part.  On  the  field  of  Gettysburg  they  kept  their  post  with  the  bravest 
veterans,  and  charged  with  the  cool,  resistless  onset  of  practiced  sol 
diers.  On  that  day  no  men  behaved  better  than  the  men  of  the  Seven 
teenth  New  Hampshire. 

"  This  eminently  glorious  campaign  was  attended  with  the  miseries 
that  war  brings  in  its  train.  Many  of  these  men  laid  down  their  lives 
as  holy  offerings  upon  the  altar  of  their  country.  Some  sickened  away 
from  those  they  loved  at  home,  drawing  their  last  breath  amid  crowded 
hospitals  ;  and  others  breathed  out  their  spirit  amid  the  roar  and  clangor 
of  battle.  Wherever  they  died,  and  however  they  fell,  none  fell  with 
his  back  to  the  enemy.  All  earned  a  soldier's  grave,  and  the  grateful 
memory  of  their  country. 

"The  time  of  service  expired,  the  survivors  are  again  scattered 
among  the  homes  of  the  state.  They  will  be  welcomed  with  rejoicing, 
while  the  tear  will  fall  over  those  brave  ones  who  have  passed 
beyond  the  roar  of  battle  to  the  reward  that  awaits  the  patriot 
soldier.  It  is  little  that  the  pen  can  compass  to  express  the  warm 
regard  and  earnest  interest  which  the  writer  of  this  article,  in  common 
with  many  others,  felt  in  the  welfare  of  the  men  of  this  command  ;  and 
it  is  equally  little  to  award  to  those  who  have  returned  from  so  honor 
able  a  warfare,  the  credit  which  is  their  clue,  and  to  keep  ever  in 
memory  the  services  and  virtues  of  those  who  have  fallen.  Honor  to 
their  memory.  No  prouder  epitaph  can  be  inscribed  upon  the  tablet 
that  marks  their  final  resting  place  than  this  : 

•«  THEY  GAVE  THEIR  LIVES  FOR  THEIR    COUNTRY.'' 


CHAPTER  XXV. 
THE  COLONEL'S  CONCLUSIONS. 

Though  the  mills  of  GOD  grind  slowly, 

Yet  they  grind  exceeding  small ; — 
Though  with  patience  HE  stands  waiting, 
With  exactness  grinds  HE  all  ! 

Tra  nslation — Longfellow . 

Asked  for  a  chapter  in  the  history  now  in  preparation, 
I  approach  a  brief  review  of  some  of  the  incidents  of  those 
days  covering  our  service,  with  mingled  satisfaction  and 
regret;  satisfaction,  that  the  story  is  to  be  told  in  this 
authentic  and  official  manner,  and  regret  for  the  lost  hopes 
attending  our  endeavor  ;  hopes,  subordinated,  let  us  believe, 
through  the  exigencies  of  the  times  to  the  public  good,  and 
an  endeavor  plainly  aiding  the  military  needs  then  para 
mount. 

Since  the  war — save  among  its  own  members  and  the 
loyal  camaraderie  of  veterans,  the  Regiment  has  not  always 
been  understood  aright.  Indeed,  it  has  been  wzsunder- 
stood,  and  sometimes  with  a  persistency  and  perversity  not 
wholly  agreeable. 

At  a  critical  period  of  military  necessity  its  formation 
was  authorized,  territory  assigned  for  its  enlistment,  and  its 
field  officers  appointed.  The  necessary  complement  of  a 
regiment  responded.  The  command  was  ordered  into  camp, 
but  many  men  volunteering  in  its  territory  so  assigned 
it, — for  reasons  not  heretofore  generally  known  or  under 
stood — were  sent  to  commands  numerically  prior  to  the 
Seventeenth,  which  were  so  made  effective,  thus  depleting 
the  Seventeenth  to  an  extent  making  immediate  muster 


122      SEVENTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE  REGIMENT. 

impossible,  leaving  its  future  to  the  dull  delays  of  lethargic 
plans  never  pressed  to  fulfilment,  until  as  the  solution  of 
the  problem  so  unexpectedly  forced,  its  remaining  strength 
was  consolidated  with  another  regiment. 

I  shall  not  essay  the  story  of  the  Seventeenth  Volunteer 
Infantry.  That  is  done  in  these  pages  by  one  of  its  officers 
competent  and  authorized.  It  is  my  privilege  and  province 
to  bear  testimony  to  the  excellence  of  the  command,  its 
intelligence,  discipline,  and  willing  obedience,  and  to  the 
cordial  regard  entertained,  each  for  all,  among  its  mem 
bers;  a  regard  born  of  common  trials  and  a  common  ser 
vice. 

And  so  to  you,  my  associates  and  comrades  of  the  brave 
days  of  old,  and  to  the  people  of  the  state,  I  bring  this 
contribution. 

Although  not  at  the  front  as  a  distinctive  command, 
neither  the  members  of  the  Seventeenth  nor  the  public 
should  forget  that  it  served  a  valuable  purpose  and  did  its 
duty  as  valiantly  and  well  as  did  any  regiment  of  the  state. 
Let  me  illustrate. 

The  transfer  April  16,  1863,  of  the  men  of  this  com 
mand  to  the  Second,  enabled  that  admirable  regiment  to 
return  to  the  front  with  fuller  ranks,  stronger  every  way  to 

o  J  J 

engage,  with  the  honor  and  success  that  attended  it,  in  the 
Gettysburg  campaign. 

The  assignment  of  three  companies  from  the  territory 
given  it,  to  the  Fifteenth,  enabled  that  regiment  to  muster 
and  take  effective  and  honorable  part  at  Port  Hudson,  and 
the  attendant  campaign. 

The  assignment  of  three  other  companies  from  the  same 
district,  completed  the  Sixteenth,  and  sent  it  into  the  hon 
orable  and  successful  service  of  the  Gulf  campaign. 

At  this  time,  the  maximum  of  officers  and  men  for  a  reg- 

o 

iment  of  infantry  was  1,046,  a  number  heretofore  attained 
before  final  muster,  but  there  was  also  a  minimum,  on  the 


THE   COLONEL'S   CONCLUSIONS.  123 

attainment  of  which,  the  field  might  be  mustered  and  the 
organization  completed.  This  minimum  number  was  914. 

For  reasons  elsewhere  referred  to  and  the  growing  diffi 
culty  of  procuring  volunteers,  the  Fifteenth  mustered  with 
919  rank  and  file  and  the  Sixteenth  with  914. 

Three  regiments,  the  Second,  Fifteenth  and  Sixteenth, 
reinforced  and  equipped  for  duty  by  these  men  originally 
destined  for  the  Seventeenth,  were  thus  enabled  to  share  in 
the  peril,  duty,  and  glory  of  active  service,  while  the  or 
ganization  thus  devoted,  was  able  only  to  rejoice  in  the 
fame  of  its  more  fortunate  comrades. 

"  They  also  serve,  who  only  stand  and  wait ! 

When  the  three  regiments  thus  raised  in  the  autumn  of 
1862  were  projected,  a  crucial  period  in  volunteering  had 
been  reached.  Farly  enthusiasm  had  subsided,  grim  reali 
ties  of  prolonged  war  confronted  us.  Military  operations 
of  that  year  had  resulted  in  discouragement,  and  public 
sentiment  as  manifested  in  the  fall  elections  was  not  wholly 
satisfactory. 

That  product  of  the  war,  the  substitute  broker,  and  his 
client,  the  bounty  jumper,  were  being  evolved  by  the  logic 
of  events.  We  had  not  begun  to  recruit  the  regiments  as 
we  did  later  through  this  agency  and  with  this  material, 
and  for  a  time  it  was  uncertain  just  how  the  forces  at  the 
front  were  to  be  kept  up.  Great  anxiety  on  this  score  pre 
vailed. 

Under  such  circumstances,  the  assignment  of  territory  for 
these  regiments  as  described  by  Governor  Berry  was  made, 
and  the  appointment  of  field  officers  therein  followed. 

It  must  ever  stand  to  the  honor  of  the  Third  Congres 
sional  district — thus  assigned  as  the  territory  of  the  Seven 
teenth,  and  for  that  regiment  and  its  officers — that  at  this 
period  of  doubt  and  anxiety,  sufficient  volunteers  from  the 
best  stock  of  the  state  responded  to  make  up  a  full  regi 
ment  !  Nor  does  it  in  the  least  detract  from  this  exalted 


124      SEVENTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE   REGIMENT. 

record,  that  under  the  presumed  exigencies  of  the  times,  a 
majority  of  these  men  were  diverted  from  their  original  as 
signment,  or  that  the  Seventeenth,  thus  depleted,  was  un 
able  to  complete  its  service  as  designed. 

Governor  Berry  in  his  memorial  to  congress  in  1892, 
referring  to  the  colonel  of  the  Seventeenth,  uses  the  em 
phatic  words — "  He  ^vas  commissioned  to  raise  a  regi 
ment, — he  did  raise  a  regiment!" 

The  special  order  of  the  Second,  read  on  the  field  after 
Gettysburg  to  the  men  of  the  Seventeenth,  the  records  of 
the  Fifteenth  and  Sixteenth,  show  how  the  men  from  the 
Third  District,  and  from  the  Seventeenth  Regiment,  deported 
themselves.  Surely  the  fame  of  the  command  is  secure, 
through  the  honor  thus  awarded. 

No  effort  was  spared  by  the  officers  to  secure  assignment 
to  active  duty,  when  in  the  spring  of  1863  it  became  evi 
dent  that  the  regiment  would  not  be  filled.  The  depart 
ment  was  memorialized  to  order  into  service  as  a  battalion, 
as  a  detachment,  to  convert  into  a  light  battery,  to  assign 
officers  deemed  superfluous  for  such  commands  to  detached 
or  staff  duty,  so  that  in  some  effective  way  we  might  com 
plete  our  service  at  the  front. 

In  the  spring  of  1863,  accompanied  by  the  adjutant,  I 
visited  Connecticut  to  confer  with  the  Honorable  Edward 
H.  Rollins — then  congressman  from  the  Second  District, 
who  was  engaged  in  the  political  canvass  of  that  state  ;  the 
Honorable  Thomas  M.  Edwards,  congressman  from  the 
Third  District,  was  repeatedly  and  urgently  memorialized 
to  the  same  effect.  No  favorable  results  ensued  and  con 
solidation  with  the  Second,  on  the  terms  set  forth  in  orders 
elsewhere  published,  was  decided  at  Washington. 

The  physique,  discipline,  and  morale  of  the  regiment  were 
early  proven  to  be  excellent  and  so  continued  under  trying 
conditions.  Distinguished  from  the  substitutes  and  bounty 
jumpers  of  a  later  period,  enlisting  from  exalted  motives,  for 


THE    COLONEL'S   CONCLUSIONS.  125 

a  patriotic  purpose,  the  men  were  willing  scholars  knowing 
the  value  of  sanitation,  proficiency  in  arms,  and  rigid  disci 
pline. 

Lieut. -Col.  Seth  Eastman  and  Maj.  J.  H.  Whittlesey, 
U.  S.  A.,  on  duty  from  the  war  department,  left  on  record 
emphatic  approval  of  the  military  excellence  and  profi 
ciency  of  officers  and  men;  approval  justified  later,  by  their 
conduct  under  the  severest  tests  of  service. 

It  is  no  meaningless  laudation  to  assert  that  officers, 
field,  staff  and  line,  were  well  equipped,  mentally  and  phy 
sically,  for  their  duties.  There  was  no  doubt  of  their  abso 
lute  fitness.  The  different  departments  were  efficiently  di 
rected  and  organized,  the  executive,  the  commissary,  the 
medical,  the  musical,  were  all  methodically  conducted. 

These  officers  were  men  of  education  and  position,  and 
familiar  with  affairs.  Some  had  seen  service,  some  had 
received  military  and  technical  education  of  a  high  order, 
others  had  served  in  the  militia;  all  were  competent,  de 
voted,  faithful. 

The  uniform  courtesy  and  good  will  exhibited  by  all 
grades  toward  headquarters  during  the  varying  and  trying 
period  of  service,  is  a  matter  of  gratifying  recollection  and 
appreciation. 

From  the  time  of  entering  camp  the  exacting  duties  of  a 
camp  of  instruction  were  prescribed  and  executed.  Setting 
up  the  school  of  the  soldier,  squad  drill,  company  drill, 
battalion  drill,  dress  parade,  were  of  daily  occurrence  as 
proficiency  demanded.  Guard  mount,  guard  rounds,  daily 
inspection  by  companies,  sick  call,  Sunday  morning  inspec 
tion  by  headquarters,  never  failed ;  the  command  early 
showed  and  later  attested  the  excellence  and  value  of  this 
routine. 

The  morale  I  have  declared  admirable.  It  stood  the 
severest  tests. 

It  is  not  difficult  under  pleasant  conditions  with  anticipa- 


126      SEVENTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE   REGIMENT. 

tions  approaching  accomplishment,  for  the  soldier  to  pass 
his  days  uncomplainingly,  but  when  time  lags,  without  the 
approach  of  expected  results,  when  weeks  melt  into  months 
with  promises  unfulfilled,  and  hope  is  chilled  by  disap 
pointment,  the  mental  fibre  is  tested,  the  real  nobleness  of 
the  individual  is  manifest,  as  he  endures  without  complaint 
the  inevitable  meted  out  to  him. 

Such  was  the  test  here  applied.  The  command  had  en 
listed  with  proper  hopes,  ambitions,  expectations ;  it  had 
served  faithfully,  using  every  proper  means  to  secure  the 
object  of  enlistment,  until  powerless  to  avert,  it  yielded  to 
the  inevitable  with  soldierly  discipline  and  submission. 

Joyous  witnesses'  of  the  service  and  fame  of  its  more  for 
tunate  comrades  at  the  front,  often  misunderstood  where 
the  story  of  the  command  was  carelessly  or  ignorantly  told, 
it  was  long  before  that  justification  and  approval  came  to 
which  it  was  entitled. 

During  those  years  of  waiting  it  has  been  an  enduring 
solace,  that  the  veterans  of  the  state  have  continuously 
manifested  loyal  comradeship  toward  their  brethren  of  the 
Seventeenth.  We  have  had  equal  recognition  in  the 
Grand  Army,  in  the  Veterans'  association,  in  official  publi 
cations,  and  our  title  is  graven  as  deeply  as  that  of  any  com 
mand  on  the  memorial  boulder  at  The  Weirs. 

When  in  1892  the  venerable  war  governor  from  his  retire 
ment  gave  to  the  Federal  congress  his  emphatic  statement 
and  memorial  relative  to  the  status  of  the  Seventeenth  and 
the  rank  of  its  officers, — a  memorial  supplemented  by  the 
unanimous  enactment  of  fitting  legislation  to  that  end,  ap 
proved  by  the  president  and  commander-in-chief, — the  men 
of  the  regiment  felt  that  their  vindication,  long  delayed, 
was  secure,  and  that  the  highest  authority  of  state  and 
nation  had  proclaimed  their  devotion  and  service. 

While  it  would  be  unwise  to  discuss  influences  affecting 
the  assignment  of  companies  raised  in  1862  in  the  Third 


THE   COLONELS  CONCLUSIONS.  127 

District — and  in  the  decision  not  to  enforce  the  draft  auth 
orized  by  state  law  upon  delinquent  towns, — decisions 
most  unfortunate  for  the  regiment, —  over  thirty  years  later, 
Governor  Berry  did  what  he  could  do,  to  retrieve  the  con 
sequences  of  those  decisions,  in  the  memorial  herein 
referred  to,  a  document  interesting,  aside  from  its  intrinsic 
vigor,  scope,  and  precision,  from  the  fact  of  the  great  age 
of  its  author,  then  ninety-five  years  old. 

It  was  on  a  bleak  winter  day  that  I  saw  him  at  the  home 
of  his  son,  William  A.  Berry,  at  Bristol,  Grafton  county. 
Ascertaining  the  object  of  my  visit,  he  expressed  his  great 
willingness  to  aid  in  securing  justice.  His  chamber  was  a 
sunny  room,  modestly  furnished.  Opening  a  cheap  pine 
desk  with  pigeon  holes,  he  explained  that  there  were  mem 
oranda  of  each  command  raised  during  his  administration. 
It  was  a  revelation,  the  completeness  and  accuracy  with 
which  he  had  collated  statistics  and  facts,  and  the  interest 
he  had  here  maintained  through  the  long  autumn  of  his 
life,  in  the  military  story  of  the  state.  Slowly,  carefully, 
and  accurately  this  memorial  was  made  and  verified,  and  I 
am  sure  with  great  earnestness  and  interest  on  his  part,  to 
remedy,  so  far  as  was  possible,  the  results  that  had  come 
to  the  command  through  the  decisions  of  1862  and  1863. 

It  is  with  more  than  ordinary  pleasure  that  I  learn  of 
this  volume,  officially  authorized,  prepared,  and  published. 
The  story  of  the  command  will  here  be  plainly  and  truly 
told.  It  will  place  beyond  doubt  or  cavil  the  record  of 
men,  patriotic  in  their  intentions  and  acts — devoted  to  their 
country  when  her  need  was  the  sorest. 

The  men  of  the  Seventeenth  are  scattered  like  their  com 
rades  of  the  great  army  of  the  Union,  throughout  the  land 
whose  integrity  they  aided  to  preserve,  or,  again,  like 
many  of  their  comrades,  have  passed  over  to  the  increasing 
majority.  This  record  will  cheer  the  survivors  and  give 
deserved  honor  to  the  memory  of  the  dead. 


128      SEVENTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE   REGIMENT. 

Those  of  us  who  remain  will,  I  am  sure,  preserve  to  the 
end  the  loyal  spirit  of  comradeship  peculiar  to  soldiers  and 
fully  manifest  among  the  men  of  "  Ours,"  feeling  just  satis 
faction  and  pride  that  the  state  and  nation  they  essayed  to 
serve,  have  in  full  and  ample  manner  recognized  our 
endeavor  made  at  a  time  when  enlistment  and  obedience 
were  the  tests  of  loyalty  and  patriotism;  and  in  this  volume 
has  given  to  comrades  of  the  war,  and  survivors  of  those 
glorious  days,  and  to  the  new  generation,  this  story  of 
what  was  attempted  and  accomplished  by  the  Seventeenth 
New  Hampshire  Volunteer  Infantry. 

LANCASTER,  N.  H.,  June  1898. 


CHAPTER    XXVI. 

THE  ADJUTANT'S  REPORT. 

BY  ADJT.  GEORGE   A.  WAINWRIGHT. 

I  joined  the  Seventeenth  Regiment  as  adjutant  in  Octo 
ber,  1862;  and  as  drill-master  to  the  officers  of  the  line; 
became  intimately  acquainted  with  them,  and  recognized  in 
them  competent  and,  in  all  respects,  efficient  officers. 

Col.  Kent  was  fitted  by  military  education  and  natural 
talent  and  tact  for  a  commanding  officer.  It  was  a  deep 
regret  to  all  that  justice  was  not  done  him  and  our  regi 
ment  by  allowing  us  to  take  an  active  part  in  the  war. 

Lieut. -Col.  Long  had  been  a  captain  in  the  "  fighting 
Fifth"  and  was  wounded  at  Antietam.  Maj.  G.  H.  Bellows 
was  a  lieutenant  in  the  Twenty-second  New  York  and  I  be 
lieve  was  in  the  surrender  at  Harper's  Ferry,  Va.  Lieut. 
Farr  of  Co.  B  was  also  in  the  service  previous  to  joining 
the  Seventeenth  Regiment.  Among  the  non-commissioned 
officers  and  men  there  was  a  large  number  of  veterans. 

I  first  entered  the  service  in  April,  1861,  as  second  lieu 
tenant,  Company  I,  Sixth  Indiana  Volunteers,  serving  in 
West  Virginia,  taking  part  in  the  Battles  of  Phillippi,  Laurel 
Hill,  and  Carricks'  Ford.  We  returned  to  Indiana  in  August, 
and  immediately  organized  the  Thirty-ninth  Regiment,  in 
which  I  was  first  lieutenant,  Company  I.  I  was  soon 
appointed  adjutant  of  that  regiment,  and  served  as  such 
until  after  the  Battle  of  Shiloh,  when  I  was  obliged  to  leave 
the  service  on  account  of  wounds,  in  June,  1862.  After 
serving  as  adjutant  of  the  Seventeenth  New  Hampshire 
Volunteers  to  the  time  of  its  disbandment,  I  was  appointed 
9 


130      SEVENTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE   REGIMENT. 


senior  first  lieutenant  of  Company  A,  New  Hampshire 
Heavy  Artillery,  of  which  Col.  C.  H.  Long  had  been 
made  captain.  We  were  stationed  at  Fort  Constitution, 
New  Hampshire,  for  several  months,  and  then  sent  to  the 
defences  of  Washington,  D.  C.  On  the  organization  of  the 
regiment,  Captain  Long  was  made  colonel  and  I  was  senior 
major.  I  served  as  brigade  quartermaster,  also  as  inspector- 
general  and  mustering  officer,  being  on  some  staff  duty 
until  the  final  muster-out  in  June,  1865. 

Many   of    the   non-commissioned   officers  of  the    Seven 

teenth  joined  Company  A 
of  the  artillery,  and  proved 
themselves  soldiers  any 
one  might  feel  proud  to 
command  ;  especially  so 
as  m  garrison  duty  dis 
cipline  is  not  so  easily 
reached  as  in  active  ser 
vice. 
men 
New 
teers, 
red  to 
Fifth 


The    record   of  the 
of    the    Seventeenth 
Hampshire    Volun 
who   were  transfer 
the     Second    and 
Regiments,     New 
Hampshire  Volunteers, 
proved   them   to  be  equal 
to   the    old   veterans,   and 

the  Seventeenth   can  well 

,    .  ,    , 

claim  a  large  share  of  the 

credit,  as  those  men  were  well  drilled  and  disciplined  in  the 
Seventeenth. 

It  is  with  a  good  deal  of  pride  that  I  refer  to  the  disci 
pline  of  the  Seventeenth  Regiment  while  in  Concord,  and  I 
well  remember  that  Major  Whittlesey,  United  States  Army, 
said  it  was  the  best  regiment  that  had  been  in  Concord. 


ADJT.  GEORGE  A.  WAINWRIGHT. 


THE   ADJUTANT'S  REPORT.  131 

We  received  credit,  also,  for  a  review  given  in  the  city  of 
Concord.  It  was  excellent,  and,  considering  the  difficulties 
we  labored  under,  was  far  better  than  could  have  been 
expected.  We  shall  always  remember  and  recall  with 
pleasure  our  camp  life  in  Concord,  and  the  many  excellent 
soldiers  connected  with  it. 

There  was  the  genial  and  accommodating  Elder  Hook, 
who  kept  the  pie-stand,  and  whom  the  boys  used  to  harass 
somewhat.  I  believe  the  old  gentleman  is  still  preach 
ing  Adventism,  and  has  long  ago  forgiven  the  boys  for 
their  pranks.  The  smoking  out  of  our  worthy  chaplain  by 
placing  a  board  over  the  top  of  the  chimney  will,  perhaps, 
be  still  remembered.  There  were  various  infringements  of 
discipline  by  "  Dusty,"  who  finally  got  a  job  of  sawing 
wood  for  Warden  Foss  at  the  state  prison. 

We  cannot  forget  the  smiling  George  Saunders,  nor  shall 
I  forget  our  ride  on  horseback  in  winter  from  Concord  to 
Claremont,  and  to  Hanover. 

Those  were  pleasant  times,  indeed,  never  to  be  forgotten, 
but  how  much  more  we  should  have  enjoyed  being  in  active 
service,  and  more  closely  cementing  the  bonds  which  natu 
rally  and  irresistibly  bind  together  old  soldiers. 

In  closing  this  brief  and  not  very  interesting  reminiscence, 
I  heartily  thank  all  with  whom  I  was  connected,  and  our 
colonel  especially.  I  can  say  that  among  all  my  associ 
ations  officially,  I  never  met  an  officer  to  whom  I  was  more 
strongly  attached,  and  next  to  himself  I  feel  the  injustice 
done  the  Seventeenth  Regiment.  I  am  glad  that  at  a  later 
day  partial  justice  was  done  him  and  the  regiment  by  con 
gress. 


CHAPTER    XXVII. 
THE  QUARTERMASTER'S  RETURNS. 

BY   EDWARD   N.   CUMMINGS. 

When  the  war  came  in  1861  it  found  me  engaged  in 
commercial  business  at  Colebrook.  April  2Oth,  of  that 
year,  our  first  child  was  born,  who  declares  that  he  came 
as  soon  as  his  wardrobe  could  be  made  ready  after  Sumter 
was  fired  upon. 

I  had  aspired  to  a  collegiate  education  in  my  youthful 
days,  but  injured  my  eyes  by  over-study  and  after  years  of 
trouble  lost  the  sight  of  one,  and  in  sixty-one  was  not  able 
to  pass  the  physical  examination  required  for  military 
service. 

After  the  Seventeenth  was  authorized,  its  field  officers 
selected,  and  when  arrangements  for  ordering  it  into  camp 
were  in  progress,  Hon.  Ethan  Colby  of  Colebrook  (one  of 
the  state's  best  men,  in  the  best  sense  of  the  term),  one 
of  Governor  Berry's  council,  asked  me  if  I  would  accept  the 
position  of  quartermaster  of  that  regiment,  and  the  position 
being  offered  me  I  at  once  accepted,  sold  my  business  to 
my  father-in-law,  S.  R.  Merrill,  who  was  my  partner,  and 
in  due  time  started  for  Concord.  The  regiment  being 
about  to  go  into  camp  in  November,  1862,  the  quarter 
master  was  needed  to  make  provision  for  the  men  as  they 
should  arrive  from  the  sections  where  they  were  recruited. 

I  found  the  Fifteenth  and  Sixteenth  regiments  in  camp 
on  the  fair  grounds,  occupying  barracks  erected  for  troops 
as  they  assembled  to  be  drilled,  mustered,  and  then  sent  to 


THE   QUARTERMASTER'S  RETURNS.  133 

the  front.     The   Seventeenth  could   not  march  in  until  one 
of  these  regiments  should   leave.      I  could   do   no  business 
until   mustered,   so   armed  with   my   commission   from    the 
governor  as   Quartermaster,  Seventeenth  New  Hampshire 
Volunteers,    I   went    to  the  office  of    Colonel    Eastman,   a 
retired   officer  of  the   regular  army  (on  duty  as  mustering 
officer),  took  the   required   oath,  and  was  a  quartermaster 
without    a    regiment  or    a 
regimental  comrade  of  any 
kind.      I     at     once     made 
requisition  for  what  would 
be  required  when  the  reg 
iment  should  begin  to  as 
semble.     There  were   cer 
tain    things  that  belonged 
to  the  United  States  essen 
tial  to  the  camp,  that  were 
handed  from   one  quarter 
master  to  another.     When 
the  Fifteenth  and  Sixteenth 
broke    camp,    I    receipted 
for  these  articles  and  came 
into     possession,    with    no 
one  but  myself  on  guard. 
If  anything,  I   lost  but  lit 
tle,  and   was   able   to   turn 

everything  over  to  the  proper  officer  when  I  mustered  out. 
I  found  the  quartermaster  business  much  like  what  I  left  at 
home,  commercial,  therefore  quite  congenial. 

Officers  and  men  soon  began  to  arrive,  and  I  found 
plenty  to  do  to  supply  their  wants. 

Army  regulations  allowed  a  given  amount  of  wood  for 
each  officer,  company,  and  guard-fires  when  the  weather 
became  cold,  and  much  fuel  was  required.  I  laid  the 
matter  before  Colonel  Eastman.  He  said  if  I  furnished 


134      SEVENTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE  REGIMENT. 

more  than  regulations  allowed  I  should  be  obliged  to  pay  for 
it  myself. 

I  received  the  requisitions  from  the  officers  for  what  was 
allowed  and  furnished  them  all  the  fuel  they  required, 
keeping  a  careful  note  of  the  amount  furnished  and  al 
lowed,  to  see  how  I  was  coming  out,  and  found  the  full 
allowance  was  not  being  used.  When  we  broke  camp  and 
I  settled  my  accounts,  if  my  memory  serves,  there  was 
more  than  .one  thousand  dollars  balance  on  the  credit  side 
of  my  account  on  fuel  alone.  That  is,  I  held  requisitions 
for  that  amount  more  than  I  had  furnished. 

I  was  also  ahead  on  clothing  and  several  other  things. 
I  had  no  difficulty  in  turning  over  the  surplus  and  getting 
a  discharge  on  these  lines.  With  forage  it  was  not  so.  I 
had  furnished  forage  for  the  horses  of  the  colonel  and  his 
staff  prior  to  their  muster  in,  and  was  called  upon  to 
reimburse  for  forage  so  furnished,  but  the  state  was  liable 
for  the  bill  to  me,  and  the  United  States  in  turn  liable  to 
the  state. 

The  trouble  was  the  United  States  had  not  paid  the  bill 
in  the  formal  way.  I  stated  the  case  to  the  governor  and 
council,  also  to  the  department  at  Washington,  calling 
their  attention  to  my  account  and  the  fact  that  they  would 
find  the  credit  side  much  the  larger,  and  that  it  would 
make  no  difference  as  in  the  end  the  United  States  would 
have  it  to  pay  just  the  same.  I  never  heard  anything  more 
about  it,  and  in  due  time  received  my  certificate  of  non 
liability  as  quartermaster  in  the  service  of  the  United 
States. 

The  Fifteenth,  Sixteenth,  and  Seventeenth  Regiments 
were  to  have  been  recruited  in  the  First,  Second,  and 
Third  Congressional  Districts,  respectively.  There  was 
trouble  in  filling  the  Fifteenth  and  Sixteenth  from  the 
First  and  Second  Districts,  and  men  were  taken  from  the 
Third  and  in  fact  from  the  Seventeenth  Regiment  to  fill 


THE   QUARTERMASTER'S  RETURNS.  135 

them.  This  left  the  Seventeenth  with  but  a  small  part  of 
the  men  assigned  it.  Governor  Berry  strongly  objected  to 
the  reception  of  men  from  "  substitute  brokers "  as  they 
were  called,  a  miserable  class  of  recruits,  many  of  whom  were 
prophesied  "  bounty  jumpers,"  and  but  very  few  were  re 
ceived  in  the  Seventeenth,  although  all  regiments  were  cursed 
with  them  during  the  later  years  of  the  war.  On  one  occa 
sion  one  of  this  class  confined  in  the  guard-house,  it  was 
thought  set  the  straw  that  had  been  filled  in  between  the 
outer  and  inner  walls  to  make  it  warmer,  on  fire.  The 
guard-house  together  with  the  stable  which  joined  was 
consumed.  When  the  horses  were  removed  the  straw  was 
on  fire  under  them.  Quite  a  number  of  rifles  were  in  the 
guard-house  loaded.  After  a  little  they  began  to  dis 
charge,  and  for  a  short  time  the  Seventeenth  was  really 
under  fire,  and  no  one  was  reported  to  have  skulked  or 
dodged. 

I  have  always  been  of  the  opinion  that  the  Seventeenth 
was  the  victim  of  undeserved  circumstances,  and  several  of 
them  at  that,  and  that  it  would  have  done  as  good  work  as 
any  regiment  from  the  state  if  it  had  been  its  fortune  to 
have  gone  to  the  front. 


CHAPTER   XXVIII. 
THE  SURGEON'S  DIAGNOSIS. 

BY  JAMES    D.  FOLSOM,   M.   D. 

In  the  gloomy  days  of  1862,  when  federal  successes 
were  at  the  minimum  and  even  the  most  loyal  of  our 
people  at  times  despaired,  came  the  call  of  President 
Lincoln  for  300,000  more  troops.  Coupled  with  this  call 
was  the  proclamation  of  Governor  Berry,  asking  the  speedy 
enlistment  of  New  Hampshire's  quota  divided  into  three 
regiments  corresponding  to  the  three  Congressional  Dis 
tricts.  I  was  in  the  Third  District,  and  the  regiment 
assigned  to  us  was  the  Seventeenth.  Its  commanding 
officer,  Colonel  Kent,  was,  and  for  many  years  had  been,  a 
warm  personal  friend  of  mine.  He  urged  me  strongly  to 
join  his  staff  as  surgeon,  and  I,  from  confidence  in  the 
colonel's  ability  and  military  prestige,  as  well  as  from  a 
desire  on  my  part  to  do  whatever  might  be  of  service  to 
the  country  in  its  perilous  days,  decided  to  accept  the 
appointment  and  was  accordingly  mustered  into  the  service 
shortly  after  the  arrival  of  the  regiment  in  Concord  in  the 
fall  of  1862.  My  assistant  surgeons  were  Dr.  L.  C.  Bean 
of  Lebanon  and  Dr.  H.  N.  Small  of  Lancaster. 

The  large  flat  plateau,  known  as  Concord  Plains,  upon 
which  our  regiment  encamped,  was  from  a  sanitary  stand 
point  all  that  could  have  been  desired.  The  ground  was 
dry,  the  air  clear  and  bracing,  and  the  drainage  excellent. 
We  had  a  snug  little  hospital  building,  fitted  out  with  what 
ever  was  needful  for  possible  sickness  or  accidents ;  but  the 
surroundings  were  so  healthful,  and  the  stringent  orders 


THE   SURGEON'S  DIAGNOSIS. 


137 


issued  by  the  colonel  for  policing  the  quarters,  and  the 
observance  of  sanitary  rules  so  rigidly  enforced,  we  had 
but  little  sickness  at  any  time  during  the  winter,  and  only 
one  death,  that  of  a  Portsmouth  man  belonging  to  Com 
pany  B,  resulting  from 
peritonitis  caused  by  eat 
ing  frozen  apples  which  he 
obtained  by  running  the 
guard  at  night.  In  view  of 
the  fact  that  we  were  in 
camp  during  the  most 
inclement  months  of  the 
year,  that  our  men  were 
quartered  in  barracks  ex 
posed  to  every  wind  and 
storm,  by  no  means  infre 
quent  in  their  coming,  it  is 
a  most  commendable  com 
mentary  upon  the  officers 
and  discipline  of  the  regi 
ment,  that  such  general 
good  health  prevailed. 

Our  hospital  steward 
was  A.  L.  Robinson  of  Lancaster,  a  fine  old  gentleman 
whose  age  did  not  impair  his  ability  to  perform  military 
duty,  except  when  engaged  with  his  pipe  and  tobacco. 
Of  the  circumstances  which  led  to  the  final  dissolution  of 
the  old  Seventeenth  as  a  regiment  this  history  will  else 
where  doubtless  give  full  particulars,  and  place  the  re 
sponsibility  where  it  properly  belongs.  We  of  the  staff 
enlisted  for  service,  and  as  it  was  our  intention  and  expec 
tation  to  faithfully  perform  our  duties  in  the  field,  it  was 
with  deepest  regret  and  bitter  disappointment  that  we 
were  finally  obliged  to  relinquish  our  good  intentions,  and 
submit  to  the  final  muster  out.  The  regiment  had  every 


JAMES  D.  FOLSOM,  M.  D. 


138      SEVENTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE   REGIMENT. 

element  to  insure  a  brilliant  and  honorable  future  had  it 
been  permitted  to  go  to  the  front.  Its  officers  were  men 
of  more  than  ordinary  ability  and  military  experience,  and 
its  men  were  of  the  best  material  to  be  found  in  the 
Granite  State. 

When  our  men  were  taken  to  fill  the  ranks  of  the 
Second,  which  had  come  home  to  recruit,  being  badly 

decimated,  Doctor  Bean 
and  I  came  home.  Doc 
tor  Small  was  assigned  sur 
geon  of  the  Tenth  Regi 
ment  and  went  to  the  front 
where  he  so  distinguished 
himself  in  surgery  that  he 
was  detailed  as  special  op 
erator,  serving  until  the 
close  of  the  war.  On  his 
return  home  he  located  in 
Portland,  Maine,  where  he 
had  a  large  and  successful 
practice  until  his  death  in 
1886.  Dr.  Bean  returned 
to  Lebanon,  but  after  a 
time  drifted  west,  and  is 

now  in  successful  practice 
H.  N.  SMALL,  M.  D.  .     ...      , 

in  Waukegan,  111. 

As  for  myself,  I  returned  to  Lancaster,  and  a  few  years 
later  removed  to  St.  Johnsbury,  Vt.,  where  I  have  since 
resided  in  the  practice  of  my  profession. 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 

REMINISCENCES. 

BY  REV.  GEO.  S.  BARNES,  CHAPLAIN. 

I  heartily  approve  of  the  effort  to  have  some  proper  his 
toric  record  of  the  Seventeenth  New  Hampshire  Regiment. 
Its  history  was  brief  but  patriotic.  That  it  had  no  record 
at  the  front  is  no  fault  of  officers  or  men ;  they  all  desired 
it — were  impatient  to  be  there.  Every  new  recruit  was 
hailed  with  joy  at  Camp  Ethan  Colby  because  his  coming 
increased  the  probability  of  active  work.  Through  weary 
winter  months  we  waited  for  the  complement  of  numbers 
that  we  might  be  mustered  into  the  service. 

We  were  hungry,  not  for  "  tack  and  coffee,"  but  for  full 
companies  and  the  field.  Because  the  officers  were  young 
they  were  called  "The  Governor's  Babies;  "  but  there  was 
no  want  of  manliness  or  soldierly  qualities.  The  only  rea 
son  why  they  did  not  signalize  themselves  in  the  field,  was 
for  the  want  of  an  opportunity.  The  quota  of  the  state 
was  full,  and  the  old  Second,  greatly  depleted  in  numbers, 
desired  to  have  its  ranks  refilled,  so  the  secretary  of  war 
ordered  consolidation,  and  the  Seventeenth  ceased  to  be, 
that  the  old  Second  might  achieve  new  honors. 

The  vacancies  in  the  field  and  staff  were  to  be  filled  by 
officers  of  the  Seventeenth,  quite  a  concession  to  "  The 
Governor's  Babies,"  especially  as  there  was  just  one 
vacancy  !  So  these  brave  officers  "  folded  their  tents  like 
the  Arab,"  and  returned  to  civil  life.  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Charles  H.  Long,  Adjutant  Wainwright,  and  Chaplain 


140      SEVENTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE   REGIMENT. 

Barnes  later  entered  the  service,  sharing  the  fortunes  of 
war  till  its  close. 

But  the  Seventeenth  was  not  without  experience ;  it 
stood  the  siege  of  a  northern  winter  in  board  barracks ; 
but  rations  were  plenty,  and  the  routine  of  camp  life  was 
observed  without  complaint,  and  this,  in  connection  with 
the  uncertainties  of  active  service,  was  a  more  serious  test 
of  soldierly  qualities  than  active  service  would  have  been. 
There  was  one  battle  in  which  Colonel  Kent  exhibited  rare 
courage.  Doffing  the  eagle  and  the  blue,  he  challenged  the 
"boys"  in  unequal  conflict,  and  the  snowballs  made  the 
battle  hot ! 

Colonel  Kent  was  a  leader  with  rare  soldierly  qualities, 
well  equipped  for  the  service,  commanding  the  highest 
esteem  of  officers  and  men. 

The  honors  of  the  regiment  came  to  the  enlisted  men 
who  yielded  their  preference  for  their  own  organization, 
and  fought  for  the  same  flag  under  other  leaders,  for  the 
cause  dear  to  all. 

It  having  been  suggested  that  the  design  of  the  Regi 
mental  History  will  properly  include  reminiscent  notes  of 
those  connected  with  it,  I  indulge  in  a  few.  Among  the 
most  interesting  experiences  of  my  life  after  the  "consoli 
dation,"  were  some  in  connection  with  a  six  weeks'  service 
in  the  Christian  Commission  in  the  general  hospital  at  City 
Point,  Va.  On  reporting  for  duty  I  was  first  sent  as  special 
messenger  with  supplies  to  Deep  Bottom,  up  the  James  river. 
The  battle  of  Deep  Bottom  was  then  in  progress.  As  the 
steamer  approached  the  scene  of  conflict,  the  most  fearful 
thunderstorm  I  ever  witnessed  burst  upon  us,  accompanied 
with  heavy  wind.  The  scene  was  terrific.  The  comming 
ling  of  earthly  and  heavenly  artillery  was  such  that  at  times 
they  could  not  be  distinguished.  The  captain,  fearing  dis 
aster,  ran  the  steamer  against  the  bank  and  waited  till  the 
storm  had  spent  its  fury. 


THE    CHAPLAIN'S  REMINISCENCES.  141 

Having  transferred  the  supplies,  I  immediately  provided 
myself  with  a  pail  of  ice-water,  brandy,  a  cup  and  sponge, 
pins  and  bandages,  and  entered  upon  the  wrork  of  relief. 
The  wounded  were  brought  to  the  rear  near  the  river,  and 
laid  in  lines  by  division.  It  was  my  first  experience,  and 
one  that  words  can  never  describe.  I  was  overwhelmed 
with  the  terribleness  of  human  slaughter.  The  remaining 
hours  of  the  day  were  the  most  intense  of  my  life.  My 
soul  was  on  fire  !  Forgetting  that  I  was  without  authority, 
only  an  accident  on  the 
battlefield,  citizen  and  sol 
dier  alike  found  himself 
subject  to  my  orders. 

Immediate  attention 
would  not  only  relieve  suf 
fering,  but  often  save  life. 
A  few  incidents  will  sug 
gest  the  work  and  experi 
ences  of  the  day.  At  one 
point  I  found  a  soldier 
with  a  fearful  wound  in 
the  shoulder,  bare  to  the 
burning  sun.  Surprised  at 
seeing  a  soldier  standing 
idly  by,  I  said,  "  What  are 
you  standing  there  for?" 

"Why,"     said    he,    "what 

REV.  GEO.  S.  BARNES. 
can  I  do?"     "Do?"   I  re 
plied,  "  get  help,  and   get  this   poor  fellow  into  the  shade." 
Instantly   he  was  at  his  best.      I  was  "  fresh,"  and   did   not 
realize  that  a  trained  soldier  waits  for  orders. 

The  thing  most  grateful  to  the  wounded  is  cold  water  to 
drink  and  on  the  wound.  Going  from  man  to  man,  afford 
ing  this  relief,  appalled  by  the  scene,  I  was  amazed  that 
the  wounded  did  not  share  this  feeling  with  me.  Wrought 


142      SEVENTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE  REGIA1ENJ. 

up  by  the  experience  of  the  battle,  they  were  less  sensible 
of  their  condition  and  surroundings.  One  young  man, 
himself  facing  death,  exclaimed,  "O!  I'd  like  to  give  the 
rebs  another  clip." 

Another  was  very  profane,  and  I  gently  rebuked  him  for 
such  indulgence  in  the  presence  of  dying  comrades,  but  he 
swore  all  the  more.  I  saw  my  mistake,  and  in  a  moment, 
passing  by  others,  poured  cold  water  on  his  wound  ;  there 
was  no  more  profanity. 

Returning  to  City  Point,  Superintendent  Williams 
assigned  me  to  the  Cavalry  Corps  hospital,  the  most  diffi 
cult  post  in  the  service,  several  delegates  having  been  driven 
out  by  the  executive  and  imperious  Scotch  surgeon  in 
charge.  Going  directly  to  him,  I  inquired  how  I  could 
make  myself  most  useful.  "  You  take  care  of  the  souls, 
and  we  will  take  care  of  the  bodies,"  he  replied.  My  work 
was  plain  and  proved  most  interesting  in  character. 
Memory  is  crowded  with  incidents  of  profound  interest  to 
me.  Perhaps  I  may  indulge  in  one  or  two.  One  morning 
the  surgeon  sent  for  me,  and,  on  entering  his  office,  he 
introduced  me  to  a  lady  who  had  come  with  a  sister's 
heart  and  a  trunk  full  of  goodies  for  a  brother,  an  officer 
who  had  died  an  hour  before  her  arrival.  She  desired  to 
know  of  his  spiritual  condition,  a  matter  of  deep  interest  to 
her.  Some  days  before  his  death,  it  had  been  my  privilege 
to  put  in  his  lips  the  words  of  prayer  by  which  he  turned 
to  the  Lord,  and  it  was  a  great  privilege  to  assure  her  that 
he  died  in  great  peace.  The  work  of  the  Christian  and 
Sanitary  commissions  were  of  untold  value  to  our  sick  and 
wounded  soldiers. 

At  the  close  of  my  labors  in  that  field,  I  went  to  the 
front  to  see  what  could  be  done  for  our  New  Hampshire 
regiments.  While  there  I  was  surprised  at  being  informed 
that  I  had  been  elected  chaplain  of  the  2Qth  United  States 
Colored  Infantry. 


THE   CHAPLAIN'S  REMINISCENCES.  143 

Later  in  the  fall  of  1864,  I  joined  my  regiment  at  Ber 
muda  Hundred,  where  General  Butler  was  "  hermetically 
sealed."  We  were  on  the  line  of  works  near  Petersburg 
and  frequently  rifle  bullets  signalled  the  nearness  of  the 
enemy. 

Friends  at  home  determined  that  the  New  Hampshire 
boys  should  have  turkey  for  Thanksgiving.  It  was  not 
difficult  to  persuade  several  officers  to  accompany  me  to 
City  Point  and  secure  one  for  our  mess.  Cook  Billy  was 
charged  with  the  preparation,  but  before  the  festal  hour 
a  rebel  shell  exploded  in  our  quarters.  Quartermaster 
Gosper  lost  a  leg,  torn  all  to  pieces.  Major  Brown  re 
ceived  a  contused  wound  in  the  shoulder,  and  Chaplain 
Barnes  a  wound — cut  within  one  fourth  inch  of  a  large 
artery. 

It  was  my  privilege  to  share  the  joy  of  victory  at  Peters 
burg,  and  then  at  Appomattox  Court  House,  seeing 
Generals  Grant  and  Lee  in  one  of  their  interviews.  Subse 
quently  we  were  sent  to  western  Texas,  as  an  army  of 
observation  in  the  Rio  Grande,  getting  our  discharge  in 
November,  1865.  Resuming  my  life-work,  I  located  in 
Michigan.  When  sixty-three  years  had  passed,  I  retired  to 
private  life.  From  a  pleasant  home  in  Petoskey  I  look  out 
on  the  waters  of  Lake  Michigan,  and  the  glorious  sunsets 
remind  me  of  "  the  home  over  there." 


CHAPTER  XXX. 
COMPANY  A,  17111  REGIMENT  N.  H.  V. 

BY  CAPT.  JARED  I.  WILLIAMS. 

"Three  years  or  during  the  war"  was  constantly  staring 
in  the  face  those  who  wished  to  give  their  aid  to  their 
country,  but  who  from  business  and  family  engagements 
could  not  see  their  way  clear  to  enlist  for  so  long  a  period  ; 
when,  however,  the  call  came  for  nine  months  and  there 
was  a  prospect  of  going  to  the  front  in  a  new  regiment  the 
young  men  of  Coos  gladly  accepted  the  call. 

In  October,  1862,  the  recruiting  flag  was  raised  over  the 
Old  Engine  House  at  Lancaster,  and  an  office  opened  which 
was  the  nucleus  of  Co.  A,  Seventeenth  Regiment.  As  fast 
as  we  enlisted  and  new  recruits  came  in  from  the  surround 
ing  towns,  the  daily  drill  and  roll  call  was  established. 
The  drill,  consisting  of  Squad  drill  and  the  School  of  the 
Soldier,  was  under  the  direction  of  Charles  N.  Kent  who 
had  just  come  from  Norwich  University,  and  who  after 
wards  became  first  lieutenant  of  Company  C.  Thus  was 
laid  the  foundation  of  that  soldierly  training  of  Company 
A  which  afterwards  on  the  field  of  Gettysburg  won  the 
praise  of  their  commander,  Colonel  Bailey  of  the  Second 
New  Hampshire  Volunteers.  With  daily  drill  and  roll  call, 
receiving  every  few  days  new  recruits,  we  passed  the  time 
till  November  when  we  were  ordered  to  report  at  Concord. 
Enlistments  were  difficult  to  obtain  at  this  time,  as  the 
bounties  paid  by  towns  were  small  ($75.00  being  the 
average),  and  the  news  from  the  front  was  discouraging, 


COMPANY  A,  SEVENTEENTH  REGIMENT.  145 

being  mostly  of  reverses  sustained  by  the  Union  troops. 
The  early  impressions  that  a  few  men  could  march  through 
the  South  and  conquer  the  Confederacy  had  long  been  dis 
pelled,  and  the  government  was  hesitating  about  ordering 
a  draft.  Under  these  circumstances  the  recruits  we  received 
were  men  actuated  by  patriotism  who  were  willing  to  sacri 
fice  all  for  their  country's  need. 

When  the  order  to  report  at  Concord  was  received,  the 
company  by  vote  chose  their  officers  and  on  the  iQth  of 
November  left  Lancaster 
in  the  early  morning,  going 
to  Littleton  some  twenty 
miles  by  stage,  thence  on 
the  C.  &  M.  R.  R.  to  Con 
cord  where  we  went  into 
camp  in  the  barracks  on 
the  old  fair  ground.  Here 
we  found  recruits  from 
Portsmouth  (afterwards 
Company  B)  and  the  Six 
teenth  Regiment  nearly 
ready  for  regimental  mus 
ter.  On  the  22d  we 
marched  to  the  state  house 
where  sixty-eight  men  with 
First  Lieutenant  Brackett 

were     mustered     into     the 

CAPT.  TARED  I.  WILLIAMS. 
United  States  service.     On 

the  26th  the  captain  and  second  lieutenant  were  mustered, 
completing  the  organization  of  Company  A.  Uniforms  and 
equipments  were  issued,  and  we  were  armed  with  Belgian 
muskets  captured  on  a  blockade  runner. 

The  routine  of  camp  life  was  at  once  commenced.      Morn 
ing  roll  call,  guard  mount,  hospital  and  police  calls,  officers 
.and  company  drill,  dress  parade,  and  all  the  duties  of  army 
10 


146      SEVENTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSPIIRE  REGIMENT. 

life  were  attended  to  with  systematic  strictness  and  were 
closely  adhered  to  until  the  final  transfer  to  the  Second  New 
Hampshire  Volunteers  on  April  i6th,  1863.  Colonel  Kent 
by  special  order  from  the  governor  had  his  field  and  staff 
and  took  personal  command  of  the  camp.  Colonel  Kent 
was  a  graduate  of  Norwich  University  and  in  addition  to 
his  military  training  was  possessed  of  those  systematic  and 
business  qualities  which  at  once  secured  the  discipline  that 
characterized  the  regiment.  No  detail  was  too  small  for 
his  personal  attention,  and  no  emergency  was  so  perplexing 
but  that  he  at  once  found  a  ready  solution.  I  well  recollect  a 
conversation  I  had  on  the  evening  of  April  i6th,  after  the 
muster  out  of  the  officers  and  the  transfer  of  the  men  to  the 
2d  Regiment,  with  Major  Whittlesey,  U.  S.  A.,  who  was 
then  in  charge  of  the  station  at  Concord  ;  he  said  that  in 
all  his  long  military  service  he  had  never  performed  a  duty 
so  distasteful  to  him  as  the  disbanding  of  the  Seventeenth 
Regiment,  as  he  had  never  met  with  a  volunteer  officer 
whom  he  considered  so  well  qualified  to  command  as  Colonel 
Kent. 

Of  the  men  that  formed  Company  A,  it  can  be  safely 
said  that  the  state  of  New  Hampshire  sent  no  men  to  the 
front  during  the  war  who  surpassed  them.  They  enlisted 
from  patriotic  motives  uninfluenced  by  bounties  and  fully 
appreciating  the  dangers  that  awaited  them — during  all  the 
time  from  their  muster  into  service,  until  they  were  trans 
ferred  to  the  Second  Regiment  through  all  the  uncertainty 
of  months  of  camp  life — located  near  the  city  with  its  temp 
tations  to  dissipation  and  neglect  of  duty,  daily  excited  by 
rumors,  now  of  being  sent  to  the  front  as  a  detachment, 
now  of  the  regiment  being  filled,  and  again  that  the  regi 
ment  was  to  be  disbanded  and  the  men  scattered  as  re 
cruits  to  the  old  regiments,  they  maintained  a  gentle 
manly  and  soldierly  conduct  to  the  last,  never  forgetting 
their  promise  of  obedience  to  orders  they  had  made  in 


COMPANY  A,  SEVENTEENTH  REGIMENT.  147 

their  enlistment  oaths,  and  though  they  posted  the  notice 
on  their  cook  house,  "The  Seventeenth  or  nothing,"  yet 
when  the  trial  came  and  on  April  i6th  we  had  the  last  roll 
call  and  marched  across  the  parade  to  the  quarters  of  the 
Second  Regiment  and  separated,  a  part  to  return  home, 
with  all  their  anticipations  of  honors  and  military  glory 
thwarted,  and  a  part  to  endure  for  the  remaining  time  of 
their  enlistment,  the  worst  of  all  trials  of  a  soldier's  life,  that 
of  being  a  recruit  in  a  veteran  regiment,  each  one  obeyed 
promptly  the  order  from  the  war  department  at  Washing 
ton  of  April  ist,  1863,  though  each  one  could  not  avoid 
the  feeling  that  injustice  had  been  done.  Their  subsequent 
history  proved  their  sterling  qualities — the  first  blood  shed 
at  Gettysburg  on  July  2d  in  the  Second  New  Hampshire 
Regiment  was  that  of  a  Company  A  man,  George  W.  Tib- 
betts  of  Brookfield ;  and  five  of  our  men,  viz.,  Geo.  W. 
Tibbetts  of  Brookfield,  John  C.  Moore  of  Lancaster,  Edgar 
Hammond  of  Tamworth,  Joseph  Kiley  of  Whitefield,  and 
Kendall  W.  Cofran  of  Seabrook,  were  killed  on  the  field 
of  battle.  (Besides  these,  I  am  confident  were  Rufus  E. 
Hodgdon  of  Shelburne  and  Shepherd  B.  Cram  of  Dalton, 
making  seven  in  all  as  the  mortality  of  the  Seventeenth 
men.) 


COMPANY  A,  SEVENTEENTH  REGIMENT. 

BY  FIRST  LIEUT.  JAMES  S.  BRACKETT. 

When  it  was  understood  that  Col.  Henry  Oakes  Kent 
of  Lancaster  would  take  command  of  the  Seventeenth  Regi 
ment,  to  be  raised  in  the  northern  and  western  parts  of  the 
state,  there  was  much  enthusiasm  manifested  by  the  patri 
otic  citizens  of  this  portion  of  New  Hampshire,  knowing, 
as  they  did,  that  a  good  deal  of  the  best  material  was  left, 
of  which  to  form  a  regiment  that  would  do  honor  to  the 
state,  under  a  commander  who  had  in  a  great  degree  the 


148      SEVENTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE  REGIMENT. 

confidence  of  its  citizens  and  was  known  to  be  eminently 
qualified  for  the  position. 

One  full  company  was  to  be  raised  in  Lancaster  and  its 
immediate  vicinity ;  accordingly,  in  the  early  part  of  Sep 
tember,  1862,  Jared  I.  Williams  and  James  S.  Brackett,  both 
of  Lancaster,  were  authorized  to  open  a  recruiting  office  in 
that  town.  Rooms  were  secured  on  the  second  floor  of  the 
old  fire  engine  house  on  Middle  street,  adequate  for  the 
purpose,  big  posters  were  displayed,  notices  in  the  papers 
of  the  town  and  county  announced  in  glowing  terms  the 
fact  that  all  patriotic  citizens  of  legal  age,  of  the  required 
weight  and  height,  and  in  good  physical  and  mental  con 
dition,  had  here  an  opportunity  to  show  their  patriotism 
and  their  devotion  to  the  country  and  flag,  by  enlisting  in 
the  service  of  the  United  States  for  the  period  of  nine 
months. 

Young  men  soon  presented  themselves,  and  it  was  evi 
dent  that  there  was  no  lack  of  enthusiasm  or  material  to 
enlist  enough  men  to  make  a  company  of  the  maximum 
number  very  quickly.  In  the  mean  time  the  selectmen  of 
the  town  called  a  meeting  to  see  what  action  should  be 
taken  in  the  matter  of  offering  a  bounty,  to  encourage 
enlistments,  to  those  who  should  enlist  and  be  mustered 
into  the  United  States  service.  The  meeting  was  a  large 
and  enthusiastic  one,  and  the  discussion  was  almost  entirely 
favorable  to  giving  a  small  bounty.  The  town  voted  by  a 
very  large  majority  to  give  a  bounty  of  seventy-five  dollars 
to  soldiers  sufficient  to  fill  the  quota  of  the  town,  who 
should  be  mustered  into  the  service  for  nine  months. 

This  vote  of  the  town  did  not  do  much  to  stimulate 
enlistments,  for  the  boys  were  full  of  patriotic  fervor,  and  a 
service  for  so  short  a  time  as  nine  months  did  not  seem  such 
a  mighty  hardship  to  their  youthful  imaginations;  but  I 
remember  well  how  thankfully  the  money  was  received  by 
the  boys  in  Concord,  when  the  chairman  of  the  board  of 


COMPANY  A,  SEVENTEENTH  REGIMENT. 


I49 


selectmen   of    Lancaster  appeared    in  camp   to    pay   it    to 
them. 

By  the  first  of  October  almost  enough  men  had  enlisted 
for  a  full  company.  Shelburne,  Gorham,  Randolph,  Jeffer 
son,  Northumberland,  Carroll,  Dalton,  and  Whitefield  had 
each  contributed  a  few  men. 

The  duties  of  recruiting  officer  were  left  to  J.  S.  Brackett 
principally,  owing  to  the  fact  that  Mr.  Williams  had  exten 
sive  business  affairs  to  put 
in  order.  While  the  enlist 
ing  of  this  company  was 
going  on,  there  were  many 
little  episodes  which  of 
course  would  disturb  the 
gravity  of  the  situation, 
like  the  following  :  A  man 
living  in  one  of  the  remote 
districts  of  the  town,  came 
into  the  recruiting  office, 
one  morning,  ready  to  en 
list,  but  he  was  accom 
panied  by  his  wife,  who 
objected,  that  though  the 
bounty  offered  might  do 
for  a  single  man,  "it's 
ne'er  eno'  for  a  man  wi '  a 
wee  wife."  Mr.  Brackett 
did  not  feel  disposed  to  give  a  bonus  to  any  one,  and  sent 
for  Mr.  Williams,  who  came  in,  and  after  much  talk,  which 
bordered  largely  upon  the  comical,  he  consented  to  give 
her  out  of  his  own  pocket  $5,  and  the  "wee  wife," — by 
the  way,  she  would  weigh  180  pounds — was  satisfied,  and 
said  "  Now,  Jamie,  my  bonnie  mon,  ye  can  ge  to  the  war, 
but  mind  and  coom  back."  He  did  go  to  the  war,  and 
acted  his  part  manfully  and  well  on  the  battlefield  of  Get- 


FIRST  LIEUT.  JAMES  S.  BRACKETT. 


150      SEVENTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE   REGIMENT. 

tysburg,  as  a  "bonnic"  Scotsman  would,  and  came  back 
to  his  wife,  and  is  a  respected  citizen  of  our  town. 

About  the  latter  part  of  the  month  Charles  N.  Kent,  then 
a  cadet  at  Norwich  University,  commenced  drilling  the  men 
on  the  ground,  afterwards,  in  June,  1864,  purchased  and 
dedicated  as  Centennial  Park.  The  men  took  a  manly  and 
even  soldierly  interest  in  these  exercises.  Mr.  Kent  was 
materially  aided  in  his  work  by  John  G.  Derby,  who  was 
...m-..^^^^,,  considered  one  of  the  best 

drilled  men  in  Coos  county, 
and  who  had  acted  as  drill- 
master  of  the  first  company 

^jjj^^^  °f   soldiers   enlisted,  which 

^^  was  Company  F  of  the  fa- 

-•j|  j||k  mous  Second  Regiment. 

I   ^NPtBBk^P^  ^s  ^e  tmie  approached 

^  ^  for  the  company  to  report 

at  Concord,  it  was  decided 
that  the  men  should  desig 
nate  their  choice  for  offi 
cers  by  a  free  and  open 
ballot.  The  town  hall, 
which  was  then  open  at 
all  times  for  "war  meet 
ings,"  was  chosen  as  the 

place    where    the    election 

FIRST  SERGT.  JOHN   G.  DERBY.  v       i  j     i         111  1^.1 

should    be    held,   and    the 

time  of  the  meeting  was  announced.  There  was  a  full 
attendance  of  the  enlisted  men,  and  many  of  the  towns 
people  were  present  who  were  more  or  less  interested  in  the 
result. 

It  was  conceded  on  all  hands  that  Jarcd  Irving  Williams 
should  be  the  captain  of  the  company,  and  he  was  accord 
ingly  unanimously  elected  to  the  position.  For  first  lieu 
tenant  there  were  three  candidates,  John  G.  Derby,  Joseph 


COMPANY  A,  SEVENTEENTH  REGIMENT.  151 

Chase,  and  James  S.  Bracket!.  Mr.  Brackett  was  elected 
by  a  good  majority  upon  the  first  ballot.  Joseph  Chase 
was  elected  second  lieutenant. 

Lieutenant  Chase  was  a  young  man  of  fine  appearance 
and  soldierly  qualities,  and  was  a  very  efficient  and  excellent 
officer.  He  was  afterwards  drowned  in  Connecticut  river  at 
Northumberland  Falls,  while  endeavoring  to  warp  a  flat 
boat  up  over  the  dam,  and  a  whole  community  was 
shocked,  and  his  loss  was  sincerely  mourned. 

It  was  now  a  time  of  general  activity  among  men  and 
officers.  The  drills  were  kept  up  as  much  as  possible, 
tactics  were  studied,  and  every  one  tried  to  make 
himself  as  proficient  as  possible  in  the  "art  of  war,"  and 
arrangements  were,  made  so  that  farms  and  other  business 
interests  could  be  left  with  as  little  loss  as  possible. 

On  the  Sunday  preceding  the  day  on  which  the  com 
pany  was  to  leave  town  for  camp,  where  they  were  sup 
posed  to  face  the  dangers  and  hardships  of  real  war,  a 
union  religious  service  was  held  in  the  Orthodox  Congre 
gational  church,  for  the  especial  good  and  edification  of 
the  "  boys."  The  Reverend  Prescott  Fay  delivered  the 
sermon,  taking  his  text  from  Luke,  chapter  iii,  verse  14: 
"And  the  soldiers  likewise  demanded  of  him,  saying,  And 
what  shall  we  do?  And  he  said  unto  them,  Do  violence  to 
no  man,  neither  accuse  any  falsely,  and  be  content  with 
your  wages." 

The  day  of  separation  came  for  the  soldiers  of  Company 
A.  There  was  then  no  railroad  between  Lancaster  and 
Littleton,  and  William  Wallace  Lindsay  was  the  proprietor 
of  the  stage  route  between  the  two  places.  On  the  event 
ful  morning  in  November,  quite  a  crowd  of  citizens  had 
gathered  about  the  hotels  in  the  village  to  see  them 
off.  The  parting  with  wives,  sisters,  and  sweethearts 
witnessed  the  same  passionate,  regretful  scenes  so  often 
told  in  song  and  story.  The  coaches  and  other  vehicles 


152      SEVENTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE   REGIMENT. 

were  drawn  up  in  front  of  the  Lancaster  House,  and  as  the 
boys  gave  their  parting  adieus  and  the  vehicles  conveying 
them  drew  away,  the  assembled  citizens  sent  up  hearty 
cheers,  and  the  "  God  bless  you  boys  "  was  long  remem 
bered.  The  ride  to  Littleton  was  uneventful,  but  at  the 
station  the  boys  were  met  by  a  crowd  of  the  good  citizens 
of  that  town  who  had  assembled  to  greet  these  new  recruits 
for  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  and  bid  them  God  speed. 
Arrived  at  Plymouth  a  dinner  served  for  the  most  part  in 
the  cars  was  provided.  Arriving  at  the  Concord  station 
the  boys  formed  in  two  ranks  upon  the  platform  and  made 
a  very  creditable  appearance,  although  not  a  uniform  was 
seen  among  the  men,  and  as  the  company  marched  up 
Main  street  and  on  the  Free  Bridge  road  to  Camp  Ethan 
Colby,  where  they  were  quartered,  and  where  they  waited 
as  a  company,  duly  enlisted  and  mustered  into  the  United 
States  service,  to  take  their  place  in  the  regiment  under  the 
officers  of  their  choice,  for  six  long,  weary  months,  only  to 
be  disappointed  and  chagrined,  it  was  remarked  by  many 
that  no  finer  looking  or  better  appearing  men  had  gone 
into  camp  than  Company  A,  Seventeenth  Regiment  New 
Hampshire  Volunteers. 

Arrived  at  camp,  they  found  there  "  Company  B,"  or  the 
Portsmouth  company,  under  Capt.  Isaac  F.  Jenness,  and 
that  evening  blankets  and  muskets  were  given  out,  and  the 
old  barracks  received  the  boys.  Guard  mount  was  ordered, 
the  details  made,  and  these  boys,  fresh  from  their  country 
homes,  patroled  their  beats  with  the  precision  and  vigilance 
of  veterans. 

The  breaking  up  of  the  command  was  pathetic.  To  be 
obliged  to  leave  the  boys  who  had  stood  by  them  so  faith 
fully  was  a  keen  disappointment  to  many  of  the  officers, 
and  some  of  them  shed  tears  of  vexation  and  regret.  It 
was  a  bitter  experience  for  true  and  loyal  men  to  endure. 
Thirty-five  years  have  passed  since  that  time  of  dismal  dis- 


COMPANY  A,   SEVENTEENTH  REGIMENT.  153 

appointment,  and  those  who  wrongfully  planned  have  gone, 
so  the  veil  of  forgetfulness  should  be  drawn,  but  the  proud 
record  the  brave  boys  of  the  Seventeenth  made  in  camp, 
on  march,  and  on  the  bloody  field  of  Gettysburg  will  never 
be  forgotten. 


CHAPTER    XXXI. 

COMPANY  B,  SEVENTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE  REGIMENT. 
(  Contributed.) 

When,  by  order  of  His  Excellency,  Governor  Berry,  it 
was  decreed  that  New  Hampshire's  quota  under  President 
Lincoln's  call  for  300,000  men  should  be  apportioned  to 
the  three  congressional  districts, — one  full  regiment  to  each 
— a  request  was  made  by  worthy  citizens  of  Portsmouth  that 
they  might  be  permitted  to  recruit  a  company  in  that  city, 
which  was  in  the  First  District,  for  the  Seventeenth  New 
Hampshire,  assigned  by  the  governor  to  the  Third  District. 
The  explanation  of  this  action  may  be  found  in  the  fact 
that  Colonel  Kent,  who  was  to  command  the  Seventeenth, 
was  stationed  at  an  earlier  period  of  the  war  in  Portsmouth, 
was  largely  engaged  in  organizing  the  Second  Regiment 
there,  and  had  made  for  himself  a  large  number  of 
acquaintances  and  friends  in  and  about  the  city.  The 
request  was  granted ;  recruiting  offices  for  the  proposed 
company  were  opened  at  once,  and  almost  before  Com 
pany  A,  in  Lancaster,  the  banner  town  of  the  Third 
District,  reported  a  full  complement  of  men,  Company  B 
had  filled  its  ranks,  completed  its  organization,  and  was 
ready  for  muster.  It  arrived  in  camp  the  day  after  Com 
pany  A. 

Of  its  officers,  Captain  Isaac  F.  Jenness,  elected  by  unani 
mous  vote  to  command  the  company,  enlisted  as  a  private, 
and  was  promoted  on  account  of  his  military  fitness  and 
executive  ability  as  a  commanding  officer.  He  was  a  thor- 


COMPANY  B,   SEVENTEENTH  REGIMENT.  155 

ough  soldier  and  strict  disciplinarian.  First  Lieutenant 
Frank  D.  Webster  was  a  gentleman  of  large  acquaintance, 
residing  in  Portsmouth,  popular  in  his  company,  and 
respected  in  the  regiment.  He  afterwards  served  honor 
ably  in  the  marine  corps, 
where  he  was  promoted  for 
meritorious  action  to  the 
rank  of  captain.  Second 
Lieutenant  Ammi  Farr  had 
previously  served  in  the 
Sixth  New  Hampshire. 
He  enlisted  in  the  Seven 
teenth  as  a  private,  and 
was  elected  by  popular 
vote  to  the  office  accorded 
him.  The  sergeants,  Clar 
ence  S.  Gray,  Charles  A. 
Grant,  George  H.  Ham, 
Christopher  W.  Harrold, 
and  Samuel  P.  Holt,  were 
all  good  men  and  efficient 
officers.  SERGT.  HALE  CHADWICK,  Co.  C. 

Company  B  was  enlisted  for  service  first  of  all,  and  every 
man  in  the  ranks  was  cut  out  for  a  soldier.  There  were 
no  "  home  guards  "  among  them,  they  were  rather  of  the 
" cow-boy"  persuasion,  and  perhaps,  in  some  respects,  not 
unlike  the  well  known  "  Teddy's  Terrors"  of  Cuban  and 
Spanish  reputation.  Had  they  been  permitted  to  go  to  war 
in  their  original  organization  they  would  have  proved  them 
selves  invincible ;  going  as  they  did,  however,  as  individual 
members  of  different  companies  in  the  old  Second,  their 
record  is  one  to  be  proud  of,  and  their  deeds  of  daring 
take  rank  with  those  of  any  veteran  in  the  regiment  adopt 
ing  them. 


CHAPTER  XXXII. 


COMPANY  C,  SEVENTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE  REGIMENT. 

BY  CAPT.  C.  S.  BROWN. 

I  preferred  to  enter  the  service  from  my  native  state,  New 
Hampshire,  and  started  with  pleasure  to  assist  in  organiz 
ing  the  Seventeenth  Regiment.  I  labored  faithfully  in 
camp  and  out,  from  November,  1862,  to  April,  1863,  with 
out  muster,  and,  of  course,  without  pay. 

I  took  into  camp  about  thirty  as  good,  young,  active 
and  intelligent  soldiers  as  ever  shouldered  a  gun,  and  re 
mained  with  them  nearly 
six  months,  hoping  to 
have  the  honor  of  com 
manding  a  company  from 
the  state  I  was  and  am  so 
proud  of. 

The  organization  of 
Company  C,  so  far  as  per 
fected,  was,  first  lieutenant, 
Charles  N.  Kent;  second 
lieutenant,  Josiah  Bellows ; 
first  sergeant,  John  G. 
Derby;  sergeant,  Hale 
Chadwick ;  corporal,  Jas. 
S.  Townsend. 

I  was  proud  of  the  offi- 

__    .  cers    of    the    regiment    as 

GAIT.  C.  S.  BROWN.  gentlemen   of  culture,   tal- 


COMPANY  C,  SEVENTEENTH  REGIMENT. 


157 


ents,  and  integrity,  and 
capable  of  meeting  any 
emergency  in  the  line  of 
peace  or  war.  The  officers 
were  united  and  the  sol 
diers  truly  patriotic.  With 
such  a  nucleus,  the  regi 
ment,  fully  organized, 
would  have  made  a  record 
the  state  would  have  been 
proud  of. 

Previous   to  joining  the 
Seventeenth,    I    served    in 
the   Rhode   Island  Cavalry 
(Seventh    Squadron)  as   a 
sergeant,     and     after     the 
consolidation  of  the  Seven 
teenth     with     the     Second        FlRST  LlEUT-  CHARLES  N.  KENT. 
Regiment,  I  organized  and  commanded  the  First  Battalion 
Maine   Infantry  Volunteers,  under  the  last  call   for   troops, 
and  was  mustered  out  of  service   in  April,  1866,  as  lieuten 
ant-colonel. 

In  1865,  when  in  command  of  the  First  Maine  Battalion, 
my  duties  were  varied,  having  been  detailed  on  military 
commissions  and  assigned  to  the  command  of  Western 
South  Carolina  under  General  Sickles. 

After  the  war  I  entered  upon  the  practice  of  law  in  Mis 
souri  and  Kansas ;  \vas  a  member  of  the  legislature  in  the 
latter  state,  and  mayor  of  the  city  of  Coffeyville,  where  an 

end  was  put  to  the  Dalton  gang  of  robbers. 

********* 

The  following  incidents  in  camp  life  were  related  by  Cap 
tain  Brown  in  a  personal  communication  to  the  editor: 

When  officer  of  the  day  making  grand  rounds,  I  found  Ham  of  Com 
pany  B  on  guard,  slightly  in  his  cups.  As  I  approached  he  halted  me 


158      SEVENTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE   REGIMENT. 

with  "Who  comes  there?  ?'  and  I  replied,  "  Officer  of  the  day."  He 
answered,  "That's  too  thin;  no  officer  of  the  day  would  be  prowling 
around  this  time  of  night.11  He  immediately  cocked  his  gun  and  held 
me  up  until  the  corporal  of  the  guard  came  and  disarmed  him. 

Surgeon  Folsom  came  to  the  officers1  quarters  one  day,  early  in  the 
forenoon,  and  invited  us  all  to  the  sutler's  and  gave  us  an  unusual 
spread,  much  to  our  surprise,  considering  the  hour.  It  was  explained 
when  he  paid  the  bill  from  my  pocket-book,  which  he  had  fortunately 
picked  up  in  the  snow.  Bless  him  ! 

His  honesty  (if  ever  questioned)  was  then  established. 

That  reminds  me  of  my  first  service  in  the  army  with  Company  "  B" 
of  students  from  Dartmouth  College  and  Norwich  University,  in  the 
Rhode  Island  Cavalry. 

The  adjoining  Company  "  A  "  was  composed  of  Boston  butcher  boys 
and  New  Bedford  whalers,  in  which  toughness  was  much  in  evidence. 
On  arriving  in  camp  at  Washington,  carbines  and  blankets  and  other 
things  were  missing  in  Company  A,  and  complaint  was  made  by  "A1' 
boys  against  "  B  "  boys  to  the  major  commanding,  who  asked  the  com 
plainants  if  they  really  thought  those  Sunday-school  children  would 

steal.  The  whalers  replied  that  "they  were  the  d dest  thieves  in 

the  army  ;  they  can  steal  the  shortening  out  of  biscuit  without  breaking 
the  crust." 


CHAPTER    XXXIII. 

SEVENTEENTH  MEN  IN  THE  SECOND  REGIMENT. 

BY  COL.  MARTIN  A.  HAYNES. 

Far  from  home,  in  employment  which  for  weeks  has 
allowed  me  not  an  hour  of  leisure ;  with  my  physical 
powers  taxed  to  the  utmost,  in  night  and  day  dashes  over 
a  broad  territory,  the  time  I  am  now  able  to  give  as  a 
tribute  to  the  men  of  the  Seventeenth,  is  entirely  inade 
quate  to  do  that  duty  as  I  would  like  to  do  it.  As  fine  a 
body  of  men  as  ever  wore  the  national  blue ;  active  and 
honorable  participants,  bearing  bravely  their  full  share,  in 
their  short  term  of  service,  in  some  of  the  most  momentous 
events  in  the  national  history,  the  record  which  will  pre 
serve  to  future  generations  the  memory  of  their  actions 
should  have  more  careful  preparation  than  I  am  able  to 
give  to  the  brief  chapter  allotted  to  me. 

Without  a  word  or  line  of  record  at  my  disposal  as  now 
situated,  I  must  depend  entirely  upon  memory,  and  a  mem 
ory  grown  treacherous  with  advancing  years.  Acquaint 
anceship  that  was  fresh  thirty-six  years  ago,  has  now  faded 
from  memory;  and  while  I  was  then  able,  probably,  to 
call  by  name  every  member  of  the  Seventeenth  serving  in 
the  Second,  there  now  linger  in  memory  only  the  names 
of  a  very  few,  which  were  fixed  by  some  incident  or  associ 
ation,  or  have  been  kept  fresh  by  continued  acquaintance 
since  the  war.  And  of  these  the  brightest  in  my  recollec 
tion  is  that  of  him  who  by  cruel  fate  was  not  permitted  to 
lead  these  men  to  the  field  after  he  had  gathered  them 


160      SEVENTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE   REGIMENT. 

about  him  from  the  farms  and  the  workshops.  My  long- 
continued  personal  friendship  with  him  is  one  of  the 
choicest  pleasures  of  my  life. 

So  I  remember  and  think  of  the  men  of  the  Seventeenth, 
at  this  late  day,  not  so  much  in  an  individual  sense  and  by 

individual  memories,  as  in 
the  great  concrete.  I  re 
member,  more  than  any 
thing  else,  that  when  the 
Old  Second,  with  its  ranks 
depleted  by  two  years'  ter 
rible  campaigning,  needed 
men  and  needed  them 
quickly,  there  was  put  into 
its  ranks  in  a  body  be 
tween  one  hundred  and 
two  hundred  men,  clean, 
stalwart,  patriotic  sons  of 
New  Hampshire,  who  man 
fully  swallowed  the  disap 
pointment  of  losing  their 
own  loved  regimental  or 
ganization.  We  marched 
together,  and  fought  to 
gether,  and  "  drank  from  the  same  canteen." 

The  glory  achieved  by  the  Second  in  the  summer  cam 
paign  of  '63  belongs  to  them  as  much  as  to  any  one  of  the 
"  old  men  "  who  had  commenced  at  Bull  Run  on  that 
fateful  day  in  '61.  On  the  march,  in  the  camp,  in  the 
battle  line,  they  never  forgot  that  they  were  "  the  Seven 
teenth  men,"  and  we  "  old  men,"  such  was  their  magnifi 
cent  quality,  always  recognized  them  as  worthy  comrades 
and  a  worthy  part  of  the  "  Old  Second."  Sandwiched  in 
among  men  who  had  stood  in  a  dozen  fierce  fights — and 
making  a  good  thick  Jill  ing  to  the  sandwich,  too — they 


COL.  MARTIN  A.  HAYNES. 


SEVENTEENTH  MEN  IN  SECOND  REGIMENT,        l6l 

went  through  the  awful  test  of  Gettysburg  with  all  the 
heroism,  all  the  "bang,"  and  "  vim,"  and  all  the  cool, 
nerve-controlling  steadiness  of  veteran  troops.  The  fight 
at  Sherfey's  peach  orchard  was  as  desperate  a  struggle, 
and  as  grand  an  exhibition  of  discipline  and  nerve,  as  that 
of  Napoleon's  Old  Guard  at  Waterloo,  and  no  men  bore 
their  part  more  manfully  than  the  Second  Regiment's  con 
tingent  from  the  Seventeenth. 

In  only  one  way  that  I  recall  were  the  Seventeenth  men 
inferior  to  the  old  men  of  the  Second  with  whom  they 
served,  and  that  was  in  physical  endurance  on  the  march. 
They  had  not  been  hardened,  as  the  old  men  had,  by  two 
years  of  active  campaigning.  From  the  time  the  regiment 
landed  at  Falmouth,  and  set  out  to  join  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac,  some  of  the  most  terrific  marches  in  the  entire 
history  of  the  Second  came  in  order.  Marches  of  thirty 
miles  or  over — forced  marches — under  a  broiling  Southern 
sun  were  not  infrequent.  The  old  men  had  been  there 
before.  They  were  toughened,  and  knew  how  to  take 
advantage  of  circumstances.  They  stripped  to  the  work. 
It  was  not  a  matter  of  spirit  and  of  will,  but  of  sheer  physi 
cal  endurance,  and  it  could  not  be  expected  that  men  fresh 
from  home  could  always  hold  up  to  the  work.  I  have  an 
impression  that  after  every  such  "  spurt "  some  of  the 
Seventeenth  men  would  be  scattered  to  the  rear  along  the 
line  of  march.  But  they  always  "  got  there."  It  was  with 
them  only  a  matter  of  a  few  hours  more  or  less  in  getting 
into  camp.  And  when  the  objective  point  was  reached, 
when  the  Old  Second,  at  Gettysburg,  stood  once  more  in 
battle  line  facing  the  enemy,  I  doubt  if  there  was  a  single 
one  of  the  Seventeenth  Regiment  absent  from  the  ranks. 

I  have  personal  recollections  of  several  in  the  service, 
but  there  are  two,  both  in  my  own  company  (I),  whose 
memory  is  especially  fresh.  They  both  died  in  the  service 

— one    shot  dead  at  Gettysburg,  the    other   passing   away 
11 


1 62      SEVENTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE   REGIMENT. 

from  disease  in  camp.  I  remember  Tibbetts,  of  Com 
pany  I,  as  a  very  disputacious  soldier.  We  used  to  talk 
politics,  and  we  did  n't  agree  at  all.  I  used  to  tell  him 
that  he  belonged  over  among  those  fellows  in  gray,  and 
had  no  right  to  be  wearing  a  blue  uniform.  I  am  ashamed 
of  it  now.  He  died  a  patriotic  death,  shot  dead  in  his 
tracks  at  Gettysburg.  And  young  Sanborn  !  I  remem 
ber  him  as  he  lay  in  his  tent  at  Point  Lookout,  wasting 
with  homesickness,  we  thought.  And  before  we  could 
realize  it,  he  passed  away.  I  was  one  of  the  firing  party 
that  gave  the  last  tribute  of  a  soldier  by  a  volley  over  the 
shallow  grave  in  which  we  laid  him  by  the  banks  of  the 
Potomac. 

"  The  men  of  the  Seventeenth."  They  were  men  of  the 
Second,  too.  We  claim  them.  And  we  admire,  too,  the 
loyalty  with  which  they  clung  to  the  memory  of  their  first 
love.  They  would  not  be  worthy  to  be  members  and 
sharers  in  the  glory  of  the  Second,  if  they  did  not.  You 
were  a  part  of  us,  my  boys.  The  glories  of  the  memorable 
summer  of  '63  are  yours,  as  they  are  ours.  And  our  home 
in  these  later  days,  at  The  Weirs,  is  yours,  too,  where  as 
long  as  we  old  veterans  shall  gather  in  reunion,  you  can 
meet  with  the  double  pleasure  of  members  both  of  the 
Old  Second  and  of  the  Young  Seventeenth. 


CHAPTER  XXXIV. 

THIRD   DISTRICT   MEN   IN  THE   FIFTEENTH   REGIMENT. 

BY  COL.   THOMAS   COGSWELL, 
CAPTAIN  IN  FIFTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE  VOLUNTEERS. 

I  have  been  requested  by  my  comrade  and  friend,  Colo 
nel  Kent,  to  write  a  chapter  for  this  history,  on  the  men  in 
the  Fifteenth  New  Hampshire  Regiment  who  enlisted  from 
the  territory  embraced  in  the  Third  Congressional  District, 
and  became  a  part  of  the  regiment  of  which  I  was  a  mem 
ber,  in  answer  to  the  call  of  President  Lincoln,  dated  August 
4,  1862,  for  three  hundred  thousand  volunteers  for  nine 
months'  service  in  the  War  of  the  Rebellion.  When  this 
call  was  made,  and  the  governor  and  his  council  com 
menced  to  make  arrangements  to  fill  the  quota  of  the  state, 
it  was  the  distinct  understanding,  as  New  Hampshire's 
quota  was  three  thousand  men,  that  the  raising  of  three 
regiments  should  be  assigned  to  the  three  Congressional 
Districts,  one  regiment  from  each  district. 

The  field  and  staff  officers  for  each  regiment  were  to  be 
appointed  and  commissioned  from  men  living  in  the  dis 
trict.  In  accordance  with  said  understanding,  John  W. 
Kingman  of  Durham  was  made  colonel  of  the  regiment 
from  the  First  District,  William  M.  Weed  of  Sandwich, 
lieutenant-colonel,  and  George  W.  Frost  of  Newmarket, 
major. 

Lieutenant-Colonel  Weed  was  not  mustered,  Major  Frost 
was  appointed  in  his  place,  and  Henry  W.  Blair  of  Ply 
mouth  was  made  major.  It  will  be  seen  that  at  an  early 
date  the  original  agreement  or  understanding  was  broken, 


164      SEVENTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE   REGIMENT. 

and  a  man  from  the  Third  District  was  made  a  field  offi 
cer  in  the  regiment  being  raised  from  the  First  District. 

The  call  for  the  three  hundred  thousand  men  for  nine 
months'  service  was  made  at  the  very  darkest  time  during 
the  Rebellion.  Reverses  of  one  kind  and  another  had 
overtaken  the  Union  army,  and  a  spirit  of  gloom  and 
despondency  was  everywhere  prevalent.  The  call  followed 
immediately  after  the  state  had  been  engaged  in  raising 
the  Ninth,  Tenth,  Eleventh.  Twelfth,  Thirteenth,  and  Four 
teenth  New  Hampshire  Regiments,  and  the  state  and  towns 
had  put  forth  every  effort  and  strained  every  nerve  to  fill 
their  quota,  with  what  success  the  fact  that  six  regiments, 
fully  armed  and  equipped,  had  been  sent  to  the  front  in  six 
months,  fully  attests. 

When  the  call  of  August  4,  1862,  came,  the  towns  had 
raised  seemingly  all  the  men  possible,  but  with  that  strength 
of  character  for  which  New  Hampshire  men  are  noted,  and 
inflamed  by  a  burning  patriotism,  the  task  was  undertaken 
to  again  fill  the  quota  assigned  the  state. 

Enlistments  were  begun  in  the  several  districts  of  the 
state,  and  it  was  found  that  a  new  class  of  men  came  to  the 
front,  made  up  notably  of  two  classes,  viz. :  The  young 
men,  too  young  to  be  accepted  in  the  earlier  regiments, 
and  men  who,  on  account  of  family  and  business  ties,  could 
not  see  their  way  clear  to  enlist  in  the  earlier  regiments. 

Many  of  this  last  class  were  beyond  the  age  of  military 
duty,  and  consequently  exempt  from  service,  but  ignoring 
this  fact,  they  left  all  behind  them,  and  did  valiant  service 
for  their  country. 

Owing  to  the  desire  on  the  part  of  both  the  national  and 
state  governments  to  hasten  the  organization  of  the  regi 
ments  and  send  them  to  the  front  as  quickly  as  possible, 
the  regiment  from  the  First  District  was  ordered  into  camp 
at  Concord,  early  in  October,  1862.  Companies  had  been 
raised,  or  partially  so,  from  the  following  localities  in  the 


THIRD  DISTRICT  MEN  IN  FIFTEENTH  REG T.         1 65 

district:  Company  A,  from  Gilford,  Gilmanton,  and  Alton; 
Company  D,  from  Deerfield,  Northwood,  and  surrounding 
towns ;  Company  G,  from  Barnstead  and  adjacent  towns ; 
Company  H,  from  Sanbornton  and  vicinity,  with  a  detach 
ment  from  Londonderry ; 
Company  I,  from  Roches 
ter  and  Milton,  and  Com 
pany  K,  from  the  south 
ern  part  of  Rockingham 
county.  These  companies 
fell  far  short  of  a  complete 
regiment,  and  so  other 
companies  from  the  Sec 
ond  and  Third  Districts, 
that  had  been  formed  and 
nearly  filled,  were  ordered 
into  camp.  Company  E 
came  from  Manchester, 
in  the  Second  District, 
while  from  the  Third  Dis 
trict  came  Company  B, 

largely    raised     in    Ply- 

COL.  THOMAS  COGSWELL. 
mouth     and     vicinity; 

Company  C,  from  Haverhill,  Bath,  Littleton,  and  Enfield, 
and  Company  F,  from  Canaan  and  towns  on  that  side  of 
Grafton  county. 

At  the  time  the  Fifteenth  and  Sixteenth  Regiments  were 
being  filled  up  and  prepared  for  service  in  Louisiana,  Henry 
O.  Kent  of  Lancaster,  who  had  been  actively  engaged  in 
filling  all  the  quotas  from  New  Hampshire,  was  appointed 
colonel  of  the  Seventeenth  or  Third  District  Regiment. 
Under  his  patriotic  efforts  and  of  those  engaged  with  him, 
a  large  number  of  men  had  enlisted  to  form  said  regiment. 
I  have  always  supposed,  and  I  am  quite  confident  that  the 
records  of  the  adjutant-general's  office  will  substantiate  my 


1 66      SEVENTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE   REGIMENT. 

supposition,  that  as  many  men  had  actually  enlisted  from 
the  Third  District,  and  were  then  ready  to  go  into  camp 
as  from  either  the  First  or  Second  Districts,  and  possibly 
more.  The  course  of  Colonel  Kent  in  submitting,  although 
under  protest,  to  the  transfer  of  men  raised  for  a  regiment 
over  which  he  was  to  have  command,  and  lead  into  action 
in  the  gallant  way  he  would  have  done,  thus  as  it  proved, 
cutting  off  his  own  entrance  into  the  service,  is  worthy  of 
great  admiration. 

Three  full  companies,  besides  individual  men  in  almost 
all  the  others  from  the  Third  District,  certainly  became  a 
part  of  the  Fifteenth  New  Hampshire  or  First  District 
Regiment. 

From  an  intimate  knowledge  of  the  men  coming  to  the 
Fifteenth  New  Hampshire  from  the  section  justly  belong 
ing  to  the  Seventeenth,  I  can  say  we  had  none  better. 

Major,  afterwards  Lieutenant-Colonel,  Blair  was  an  officer 
of  great  courage,  and  was  ever  ready  for  any  duty  assigned 
him.  Capt.  John  W.  Ela  was  a  young,  vigorous,  excellent 
officer,  as  were  all  the  officers  of  the  three  companies. 

The  men  were  strong  and  hardy,  and  endured  the  terri 
ble  climate  of  Louisiana  and  the  long  siege  of  forty-four 
days  at  Port  Hudson  equally  with  any  men  in  the  regiment. 
Their  connection  with  our  regiment  did  much  to  give  it  the 
standing  that  it  had  in  the  Department  of  the  Gulf.  It  is  a 
matter  of  profound  regret  that  the  Seventeenth  New  Hamp 
shire  Regiment  was  not  able  to  complete  its  organization, 
and  go  to  the  front  as  originally  intended.  It  would  have 
added  one  more  regiment  to  the  number  sent  by  the  Gran 
ite  State  to  help  put  down  the  Rebellion  and  restore  the 
Union,  every  one  of  which  did  its  full  duty  in  whatever 
place  assigned  it,  and  brought  additional  renown  to  our 
loved  New  Hampshire,  as  not  only  the  mother  of  men,  but 
of  soldiers,  who,  in  every  war  of  this  country,  have  acted 
well  their  part. 


THIRD  DISTRICT  MEN  IN  FIFTEENTH  REGT.         167 

As  a  citizen  of  New  Hampshire,  and  a  soldier  in  that 
war  that  "  tried  men's  souls,"  I  am  glad  to  know  that  at  a 
late  day,  after  many  years  of  weary  waiting,  justice,  in  a 
measure,  has  been  done  to  the  man,  who  in  the  bright  flush 
of  his  early  manhood,  imbued  with  a  patriotism  inborn,  saw 
a  regiment  raised  in  his  district,  for  him,  and  largely  by  his 
personal  efforts,  taken  piece  by  piece  from  his  control,  and 
finally  leaving  him  with  only  a  remnant  of  strong,  brave, 
patriotic  men,  anxious  to  go  with  their  neighbors  and 
friends  into  the  conflict  then  so  furiously  raging,  and  who, 
after  a  long  time  of  anxious  waiting,  saw  even  that  remnant 
transferred  to  another  regiment,  the  Second  New  Hamp 
shire. 

I  am  only  too  glad  to  pay  a  just  recognition  to  the  men 
from  the  Third  District  who  so  nobly  helped  make  the  regi 
ment  to  which  I  belonged  so  noted  a  success. 

It  is  only  fair  to  say,  that  if  the  men  from  the  Third 
District  had  been  ordered  into  camp,  instead  of  those  from 
the  First,  the  Fifteenth  might  have  been  the  unfilled  regi 
ment  left  stranded  at  home,  and  more  brilliant  honors  have 
come  to  the  officers  and  members  of  the  Seventeenth. 


CHAPTER    XXXV. 
THIRD  DISTRICT  MEN  IN  THE  SIXTEENTH  REGIMENT. 

BY  BROOKS  K.  WEBBER,  LIEUTENANT  Co.  I. 

Thiee  companies  recruited  for  Col.  Kent's  Seventeenth 
Regiment  from  the  old  Third  Congressional  District  were 
sent  to  serve  in  the  Sixteenth  under  Col.  Pike.  They  came 
chiefly  from  Swanzey,  Fitzwilliam,  Goshen,  Newport,  and 
Lebanon,  a  few  from  other  towns  in  the  vicinity  of  these. 
They  were  enrolled  with,  and  henceforth  shared  the  fortunes 
of,  the  Sixteenth.  The  history  of  this  regiment  has  been 
told  by  Adjutant  Luther  T.  Townsend,  in  his  recently  pub 
lished  book,  the  chapters  of  which  originally  appeared  in 
the  Granite  Monthly.  I  regret  that  in  this  brief  chapter  I 
can  but  outline  its  movements,  and  the  demands  upon  my 
time  are  such  that  much  must  be  left  untold.  The  histo 
rians  have  told  us  enough  to  make  the  claims  of  the  sur 
viving  veterans  quite  reasonable.  The  Sixteenth  had  an 
important  duty  to  perform.  It  was  a  part  of  the  great  or 
ganization  that  broke  the  power  of  the  Confederates  upon 
the  Mississippi,  and,  as  has  been  said,  cut  the  rebellion  in 
two. 

The  state  of  Louisiana  was  subdued  outside  of  Port  Hud 
son,  and  so  thoroughly,  that  when  Vicksburg  surrendered 
the  last  hope  of  resistance  vanished  and  the  taking  of  Port 
Hudson  was  a  bloodless  victory.  But  the  Banks  campaign 
was  neither  bloodless  nor  cheap  in  loss  of  human  health 
and  life.  In  these  latter  respects  it  was  among  the  most 
costly  of  the  war.  It  is  true  the  Sixteenth  men  were  en- 


THIRD   DISTRICT  MEN  IN  SIXTEENTH  REGT.       169 

listed    for   only    nine   months,   but   it  was   enough ;     a   few 
months  more  would  have  utterly  destroyed  the  regiment. 

The  months  of  the  early  fall  after  our  enlistment  were 
spent  in  camp  at  Concord,  N.  H.  On  November  23d,  1 862, 
the  regiment  departed  for  New  York,  where  they  arrived 
the  next  morning.  On  December  7th,  seven  companies, 
including  Companies  A  and  I,  sailed  on  the  steamer  East 
ern  £>ticen  under  sealed  orders.  On  the  Sunday  following* 
these  orders  were  opened  and  our  destination  was  found  to 
be  Ship  Island,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Mississippi  river.  The 
voyage  was  one  of  hardship,  the  sea  was  rough,  and  many 
suffered  from  sea-sickness,  aggravated  by  the  poor  food 
which  sick  as  well  as  the  rest  were  compelled  to  eat.  Upon 
arriving  at  Ship  Island,  orders  were  received  to  proceed  to 
New  Orleans,  where  we  arrived  Dec.  2Oth,  1862,  and  pitched 
our  tents  at  Carrollton,  a  few  miles  above  the  city.  Here 
our  first  death  occurred,  the  soldier  being  Lieut.  Prescott 
Jones,  of  Company  E. 

December  3ist  our  muster  roll  showed,  according  to 
Adjt.  Townsend,  that  one  out  of  every  seven  enlisted  men 
was  on  the  sick  list.  The  other  three  companies  joined  us 
Jan.  I,  1863.  They  included  Company  F,  which,  with 
Companies  A  and  I,  were  mostly  third  district  men.  A 
regimental  drill  took  place  January  3d,  and  Gen.  Thomas  W. 
Sherman  highly  complimented  our  regiment.  On  January 
25th,  among  many  others,  Colonel  Pike,  Captain  Bosworth, 
and  Lieutenants  Burnham  and  Wilkins  were  sick  and  unable 
to  report  for  duty.  And  yet  this  was  not  due  to  any  defi 
ciency  in  the  physical  make-up  of  the  men,  for  our  regiment 
was  admitted  to  be  composed  of  material  equal  to  any  that 
took  part  in  the  Banks  campaign. 

March  5th,  after  a  long  and  tedious  stay  at  Carrollton, 
we  went  up  the  river  to  Baton  Rouge  on  transports,  and 
after  about  a  week's  wait  there  we  advanced  towards  Port 
Hudson.  We  camped  about  four  miles  from  that  fortress. 


170      SEVENTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE   REGIMENT. 

Farragut  had  collected  his  fleet  below  Port  Hudson.  The 
object  of  the  land  expedition  was  to  make  a  demonstration 
that  should  distract  the  attention  of  the  garrison  while  Far 
ragut  attempted  to  pass  the  batteries.  After  a  spirited  at 
tempt  at  night,  two  of  his  warships  and  a  gunboat  succeeded 
in  passing  the  batteries.  One  of  his  ships  was  disabled  and 
one  destroyed.  We,  with  the  rest  of  Banks'  troops,  returned 
to  Baton  Rouge,  after  three  days  and  nights  of  apparently 
needless  wandering  in  the  swamps  and  bayous.  This  in 
cluded  the  famous  "  Mud  March,"  which  we  claim  to  be  as 
severe  a  trial  of  physical  endurance  as  occurred  during  the 
war.  It  was  a  relief  to  finally  arrive  once  more  even  at  the 
old,  filthy  camp-ground  of  Baton  Rouge. 

Farragut,  with  the  ships  that  passed  the  batteries,  kept 
on  up  the  river.  There  was  nothing  to  stop  him  this  side 
of  Vicksburg.  What  he  really  accomplished  was  to  get 
control  of  the  mouth  of  the  Red  river,  and  later  to  commu 
nicate  with  the  forces  at  Brashear  City  and  Butte  a  la  Rose. 
Had  he  succeeded  in  running  all  his  fleet  past  Port  Hudson, 
the  difficulties  were  by  no  means  overcome.  It  is  generally 
admitted  that  the  Confederate  forces  at  Port  Hudson  ex 
ceeded  in  number  our  men,  and  the  fortifications  were  of 
unusual  strength  and  extent.  It  was  not  the  right  time  to 
take  Port  Hudson. 

On  April  3d  we  went  to  Algiers  (opposite  New  Orleans), 
and  from  there,  after  a  few  days'  sojourn,  we  were  ordered 
to  Brashear  City,  eighty  miles  west.  Here,  although  we 
were  constantly  expectant,  we  did  not  meet  the  enemy. 
Disease  was  alarmingly  prevalent  among  our  men,  deaths 
occurring  almost  daily.  Here  a  notable  incident  was  'the 
destruction  of  the  Confederate  steamer  Qtieen  of  the  West, 
the  capture  of  its  commander,  Captain  Fuller,  and  the  dis 
persion  of  the  rest  of  the  enemy's  fleet.  April  i8th  we 
were  distributed  on  four  gunboats  and  instructed,  as  our 
orders  read,  "  to  proceed  up  Bayou  Atchafalaya  to  clear  it 


THIRD  DISTRICT  MEN  IN  SIXTEENTH  REGT.       171 

of  obstructions  and  to  make  an  attack  upon  Butte  a  la 
Rose." 

The  latter  point  was  about  seventy-five  miles  north  of 
Brashear  City  and  was  considered  an  important  position. 
We  ascended  the  bayou  slowly ;  constant  vigilance  was  re 
quired,  as  we  were  in  danger  from  the  Confederate  sharp 
shooters  and  bushwackers  that  lined  the  shores.  Cotton 
bales  were  placed  around  the  sides  of  the  gunboats,  and 
made  quite  a  good  barricade.  On  April  2Oth — the  day 
when  Banks  made  his  entry  into  Opelousas — our  expedition 
captured  Fort  Burton.  The  garrison  surrendered  and  were 
sent  as  prisoners  of  war  to  New  Orleans.  This  wonderfully 
improved  their  position,  although  it  did  not  ours.  Two 
gunboats  then  ascended  the  bayou  to  its  source,  and  enter 
ing  the  Mississippi,  joined  Admiral  Farragut  on  the  2nd  of 
May.  Upon  each  boat  were  twenty  members  of  our  regi 
ment  who  acted  as  sharpshooters.  Speaking  of  the  result 
of  our  expedition,  the  Comte  de  Paris  says,  in  his  History 
of  the  Civil  War  in  America:  "A  sure  and  easy  way 
was  therefore  open  for  turning  the  batteries  of  Port  Hud 
son." 

For  some  six  weeks  after  the  occupation  of  Butte  a 
la  Rose  the  Sixteenth  remained  there,  surrounded  by  bush 
wackers  and  almost  eighty  miles  from  any  Federal  assist 
ance  in  case  of  an  attack.  From  this  pestilential  camp 
most  of  the  soldiers  can  date  the  beginning  of  that  scourge 
of  disease  which  so  sorely  afflicted  the  regiment.  Many, 
it  is  true,  were  sick  at  Brashear  City  and  New  Orleans, 
among  them  Colonel  Pike,  but  the  season  of  the  year,  the 
swamps,  the  unsanitary  condition  of  our  camp  and  its  sur 
roundings,  made  disease  especially  prevalent  and  deadly. 
Adjutant  Townsend  says:  "Butte  a  la  Rose,  aside  from 
being  a  very  strategic  position  from  a  military  point  of  view, 
proved  also  to  be  such  from  several  other  points  of  view. 
It  was  the  grand  rendezvous  of  mosquitoes,  fleas,  wood- 


172      SEVENTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE   REGIMENT. 

ticks,  lice,  lizards,  frogs,  snakes,  alligators,  fever  bacteria, 
dysentery  microbes,  and  every  conceivable  type  of  malarial 
poison."  And  added  to  this  chapter  of  horrors  should  be 
an  insufficient  and  unwholesome  diet.  Then  there  was  the 
constant  danger  of  capture  by  the  enemy.  Finally  we  were 
taken  away  on  transports  sent  for  our  rescue.  Before  leav 
ing,  we  burned  the  barracks  at  Fort  Burton,  and  the  guns 
we  captured  were  taken  to  Brashear  City.  We  left  none 
too  soon.  A  force  of  Confederates  were  close  upon  us — so 
close,  indeed,  that  a  day's  delay  might  have  resulted  in  our 
capture.  The  extent  of  such  a  catastrophe  can  only  be 
imagined.  In  our  condition  prison  life  would  have  meant 
annihilation.  As  it  was,  our  men  arrived  safely  before  Port 
Hudson.  A  mere  handful  only  were  able  to  bear  arms. 
Many  had  been  buried  in  the  swamps.  General  Emery 
spoke  of  us,  the  survivors,  as  "  a  few  skeletons  of  the  Six 
teenth."  We  were,  owing  to  our  condition,  assigned  to 
guard  duty  at  the  arsenal  at  Springfield  Landing.  An  at 
tack  by  bushwackers  was  repulsed,  and  the  regiment  received 
special  credit  for  that  performance.  The  time  for  which  we 
were  enlisted  had  now  nearly  expired,  and  the  fall  of  Vicks- 
burg,  followed  by  the  immediate  surrender  of  Port  Hudson, 
fittingly  brought  the  Banks  campaign  to  a  close,  and  crowned 
the  work  of  the  Sixteenth  with  success.  On  July  roth  they 
entered  the  works  at  Port  Hudson  with  the  other  victorious 
troops.  Their  duties  were  then  done  and  they  returned 
home.  The  Mississippi,  for  the  first  time  since  the  out 
break  of  the  Rebellion,  was  entirely  under  Federal  control. 
Our  regiment  was  mustered  out  at  Concord,  August  2Oth, 
1863. 

Our  common  suffering  and  privation  levelled  rank  and 
brought  officers  and  men  into  the  closest  touch  and  most 
sympathetic  intercourse.  There  was  little  of  that  official 
formalism  or  lack  of  consideration  for  the  common  soldier 
which  sometimes  renders  a  campaign  galling  and  unbeara- 


THIRD   DISTRICT  MEN  IN  SIXTEENTH  REGT.       173 

ble,  and  prevents  the  highest  devotion  to  the  regiment. 
There  has  consequently  resulted  a  fraternal  spirit  and  an 
absence  of  ill  feeling  among  the  veterans  of  the  Sixteenth 
which  is  a  source  of  lasting  gratification.  It  was,  therefore, 
easy  for  them  to  adopt,  if  I  may  so  speak,  these  companies 
of  Third  District  men  who  were  recruited  for  and  were  nat 
urally  by  location  of  the  Seventeenth — to  fight,  work,  and 
suffer  with  them,  and  share  the  honors  they  so  dearly 
bought. 

There  has  ever  been  a  feeling  of  grateful  appreciation 
amon£  the  members  of  the  Sixteenth  toward  the  Third 

o 

District  men  who  were  their  compatriots  and  comrades. 
Time,  indeed,  has  made  some  almost  forget  the  connection 
of  those  brave  men  with  the  Seventeenth.  The  records  do 
not  usually  distinguish  them,  and  therefore  it  is  well  that 
we  should  remember  that  their  meritorious  services  reflected 
honor  upon  their  district  and  showed  of  what  stuff  Colonel 
Kent's  regiment  was  made.  At  least  three  fourths  of  the 
men  in  my  company  were  from  the  Third  District,  many  of 
them  neighbors  and  friends,  for,  although  I  enlisted  in  An 
trim,  my  parents  resided  in  Newport  during  the  war.  I  can 
therefore  speak  from  close  personal  acquaintance.  Our 
captain,  Daniel  Buffum  of  Swanzey,  was  one  of  them,  and  he 
died  for  his  country  at  New  Orleans.  A  list  of  those  who 
suffered  and  who  died  would  be  a  roster  of  the  company, 
and  other  personal  mention  is  therefore  omitted. 

There  is  among  the  survivors  much  pride  in  the  fact  that 
they  were  from  the  old  Third  District.  In  conversation 
with  them  it  always  comes  out  that  they  enlisted  for  the 
Seventeenth,  and  they  are  still  loyal  to  the  old  district  and 
to  Colonel  Kent,  while  lacking  nothing  in  appreciation  of 
the  qualities  of  the  late  Colonel  Pike.  And  with  this  loy 
alty  is  mingled  regret  that  the  Seventeenth  could  not  have 
gone  to  the  front  in  its  entirety,  following  its  proper  leaders 
and  under  its  own  regimental  flag.  Then  its  history  would 


174      SEVENTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSPIIRE    REGIMENT. 


have  been  unified,  not  scattered,  and  honors  won  by  its 
members  individually  would  have  been  credited  to  the  pro 
per  organization  and  district. 

It  is  not  for  me,  and  I  do  not  deem  it  to  lie  within  the 
scope  of  this  chapter,  to  go  beyond  the  commonest  facts, 
often  recited,  in  regard  to  the  connection  of  the  Third  Dis 
trict  men  with  the  Sixteenth,  to  look  for  causes,  reasons,  or 

motives  why  the  state 
should  have  dismembered 
the  Seventeenth,  however 
much  it  added  strength  to 
the  others.  It  is  no  slight 
thing  to  separate  men  from 
the  officers  who  have  re 
cruited  and  trained  them, 
and  to  leave  the  officers 
without  the  opportunity 
to  lead  their  men  forth 
to  their  expected  duty  in 
the  field  of  patriotic  ser 
vice.  We  may  say  it  was 
expedient,  yet,  neverthe 
less,  it  savors  of  injustice. 
I  have  spoken  of  the  con 
nection  of  the  Third  Dis 
trict  companies  with  the 
Sixteenth  as  "adoption,"  and  I  have  done  so  advisedly. 
The  feeling  which  a  colonel  holds  toward  his  men  (  "boys," 
he  always  calls  them)  is  a  paternal  one,  surely,  and  the 
loss  of  them  falls  little  short  of  bereavement. 

But  this  personal  sacrifice  was  bravely  and  patriotically 
borne.  The  Sixteenth,  rank  and  file,  has  honored  them 
and  their  colonel  with  a  full  appreciation  of  the  merits  of 
their  cause.  It  has  watched,  hoping  at  last  to  see  the  gov- 


LIEUT.  BROOKS  K.  WEBBER. 


THIRD   DISTRICT  MEN  IN  SIXTEENTH  REGT.       175 

ernment  officially  place  Colonel  Kent  in  his  proper  position 
upon  the  military  rolls  of  the  nation. 

No  better  men  came  to  the  regiment  than  those  from  the 
old  Third  Congressional  District.  Companies  A  and  F 
were  almost  entirely,  and  Company  I  largely,  composed  of 
them.  They  were  justly  proud  of  their  section  of  the  state, 
as  they  well  might  have  been,  for  it  is  said  that  for  some 
years  previous  to  its  losing  its  identity,  the  Third  Congres 
sional  District  had  the  smallest  per  cent,  of  illiteracy  of  any 
in  the  United  States.  These  men,  rank  and  file,  were  good 
soldiers.  They  bore  the  hardships,  privations,  sufferings, 
and  sacrifices  that  came  to  them  with  great  fortitude  and 
patience.  The  regiment,  during  its  brief  term  of  service, 
lost  by  disease  at  least  twenty  per  cent,  of  its  men,  and  this 
percentage  was  largely  increased  in  the  weeks  immediately 
following  its  discharge.  The  history  of  no  other  New 
Hampshire  regiment  furnishes  a  parallel  with  this.  There 
was  no  time  during  the  last  two  months  of  service  that  the 
regiment  could  have  mustered  fifty  men  fit  for  even  light 
duty.  The  death-rate  was  appalling.  At  the  expiration 
of  its  term  of  service  some  of  the  sickest  were  sent  home 
by  water,  and  the  balance  were  furnished  transportation  by 
boat  up  the  Mississippi  river  to  Cairo,  111.,  thence  by  rail  to 
Concord.  Sickness  and  death  followed  the  regiment  along 
its  homeward  journey.  The  graves  of  the  poor  fellows  are 
scattered  from  New  Orleans  to  Concord.  The  history  of 
the  Sixteenth  is  a  pathetic  one  ;  it  passed,  indeed,  through 
the  valley  of  the  shadow  of  death,  and  with  a  fortitude  and 
uncomplaining  devotion  that  is  a  tender  memory  in  the 
heart  of  every  survivor  of  this  regiment. 


CHAPTER    XXXVI. 

GRAND  ARMY  OF  THE    REPUBLIC  :    SEVENTEENTH    MEN 
AS  COMRADES. 

BY  GENERAL  ALBERT  S.  TVVITCHELL, 
DEPARTMENT  COMMANDER,  G.  A.  R. 

There  is  no  part  of  the  history  of  New  Hampshire  more 
interesting  or  more  valuable,  or  that  should  be  preserved 
with  greater  care,  than  that  of  its  organizations  in  the 
Civil  War,  in  which  the  state  took  such  a  prominent  and 
honorable  part ;  and  the  writing  of  these  histories  now, 
where  they  have  not  already  been  written,  is  a  most  com 
mendable  work,  and  is  held  with  delight,  not  only  by 
every  living  member  of  these  organizations,  but  by  all 
our  people,  who  recognize  the  valor  and  patriotism  which 
prompted  the  enlistment  into  the  service  of  our  country 
when  brave  men  were  needed  to  preserve  our  national 
unity  and  honor. 

These  histories  are  becoming  even  more  and  more  valu 
able  with  advancing  time,  and  no  public,  or  even  private, 
library  in  the  state  will  be  complete  until  it  can  place  upon 
its  list  the  record  of  every  state  organization,  which  stood 
to  its  credit  as  defenders  of  our  common  country,  when 
treason  and  rebellion  sought  its  overthrow,  and  the  same 
will  be  true  of  those  now  engaged  in  the  Spanish  war,  as 
it  was  true  of  our  part  in  the  struggle  for  our  independence, 
when  at  Bennington  and  Bunker  Hill,  and  on  other  bloody 
fields,  New  Hampshire  furnished  its  full  share  of  heroes,  the 
records  of  whose  deeds  is  emblazoned  upon  historic  pages, 
and  is  as  monumental  of  heroism  as  are  its  granite  hills,  of 


SEVENTEENTH  MEN  AND    THE    GRAND   ARMY.     177 

its  landscape   grandeur  and  beauty.      That  every  true  sol 
dier  who  enlisted   in   our  memorable  Civil  War  did  not  see 
active   service  in  the  field  was  not  in  any  way  due  to   his 
want  of  courage  or  valor,  for  that  was  fully  proved  when, 
in  the  midst  of  war,  he  signed   the  rolls  which  made   him  a 
soldier   of  the   republic;    he   was   then    under   orders;     he 
ceased   to    be  free   to   act  for  himself,  and   could   only  go 
where  duty  called  and  his 
commanding  officers  dic 
tated.   The  same  was  true 
also     of     companies    and 
regiments   of   men   under 
the  strict  discipline  of  war, 
and  while    some  were    in 
the  thickest  of  the   fight, 
others,  as  brave  and  true, 
were   standing  at  "  atten 
tion  "or  "resting  on  arms," 
as    ready  as  they  to   obey 
any  call  to   battle.      Get 
tysburg,    Antietam,     the 
Wilderness,    and     other 
bloody    battlefields,    had 
their    heroes    called     into 
action    by   the    circum 
stances  surrounding  their  °EN'  A"  S'  TwiTCHELL- 
service,  but   no  one  can  say  that  there  was  not  a  true  en 
listed  soldier  in  all  the  service,   either  upon   land   or    sea, 
who   would   not  have    as    promptly  faced  the   enemy  and 
yielded   up  his   life,  if   need  be,  had   he    been  privileged  to 
be  in  those  contests. 

New  Hampshire  had  one  regiment  which,  owing  to  cir 
cumstances  beyond  its  control,  was  not,  as  a  regiment, 
called  to  the  front,  but  which  for  months  was  in  camp, 
while  men  originally  assigned  it  were  ordered  to  other 

^  c\ 


178      SEVENTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE   REGIMENT. 

commands,   until,   after  weary  waiting    under    strict  camp 
service   and   discipline,   it   was    consolidated   with    another 
regiment,  as  the  record  in  the  office  of  the  adjutant-general 
shows.     This  was  the  Seventeenth,  of  which  Col.  Henry  O. 
Kent  of  Lancaster  had   command,  and  which  he  with   his 
officers   labored   so  hard  to   fill.       It    is    not  my  purpose, 
or  my  duty,   to  write   anything  of  the  history  of  this  or 
ganization,  for    others    are    selected    to    perform  that  ser 
vice.      I  am,  however,  asked  to  write  a  little   Grand  Army 
history,  which  may  not  be  out  of  place  in  any  record  which 
pertains  to  those  whose  service  and   honorable    discharge 
entitle  them  to  membership   in  that  order,  so  dear  to  every 
true,  veteran   soldier,  viz.:    The   Grand    Army   of  the   Re 
public.      Col.   E.  E.  Cross   Post   16,  of  the  Department  of 
New  Hampshire,  G.  A.  R.,  located  at  Lancaster  and  named 
after  one  of  the  bravest  of  all  the  brave  men  of  our  Civil 
War,  the  record  of  whose  deeds  made  the  old  Granite  state 
so  famous   upon  many  a  battlefield,  was  among  the  posts 
first  organized  in  the  department,  and   it  had,   as  charter 
members,  quite  a  number  of  men  of  the  Seventeenth   Regi 
ment,  some   of  whom   saw  no   other  service,  but  who  were 
then,   and    have    since    been,   prominent   members   of   this 
post.      It  was  in  this   post   that   I   first  learned  the  lessons 
taught    by   our    beautiful    muster-in    service,   from    which, 
being   afterwards  transferred,   I   became   a  member  of  the 
post  at  my  own  home,  which  was  organized   a  little  later. 
The    members   of   the    Seventeenth    Regiment,    as    far    as 
recruited,  were  largely  from   the  old  Third  Congressional 
District  and  the  northern  portion  of  the  state,  in  the  vicinity 
of  the  home  of  Colonel  Kent,  whose  arduous  labors  to  fill 
the    regiment    are    so   well    known    and    remembered.      A 
special    act   of   congress,    later    doing    full    justice   to    the 
command,  gave   him   full   recognition  of  rank  and   service 
as  "  Colonel  of   the  Seventeenth    New    Hampshire  Volun 
teer  Infantry." 


SEVENTEENTH  MEN  AND    THE    GRAND  ARMY.       179 

This  gave  to  Post  16,  more  than  to  any  other,  a  repre 
sentation  from  the  Seventeeth,  Colonel  Kent  being  its 
second  Post  Commander,  which  honorable  position  has 
also  been  filled  by  Capt.  Jared  I.  Williams,  Corp.  George 
H.  Emerson,  and  Lieut.  James  S.  Brackett,  whose  names 
appear  upon  the  rolls  of  the  Seventeenth  New  Hampshire 
Volunteers,  as  do  also  the  names  of  Daniel  C.  Bean,  Royal 
Hicks,  Delevan  G.  Hubbard,  Jesse  Tuttle,  Ellery  Wheeler, 
J.  W.  Perkins,  John  M.  Newell,  Walter  S.  Bailey,  Austin 
Bedell,  Robert  Blakely,  George  Blood,  William  J.  Cham 
berlain,  Shepherd  B.  Cram,  John  G.  Derby,  Jonathan  E. 
Dustin,  Ira  S.  M.  Gove,  Hezekiah  E.  Hadlock,  Rufus  E. 
Hodgdon,  Leland  Hubbard,  William  B.  Ingalls,  Levi  W. 
Jackman,  Alfred  S.  Jackman,  Charles  N.  Kent,  Asa  J. 
King,  Charles  E.  King,  Harvey  H.  Lucas,  John  C.  Moore, 
Charles  W.  Moulton,  Sidney  H.  Peaslee,  Sumner  Perkins, 
William  C.  Putnam,  James  Reed,  Edmund  B.  Sanborn, 
Jason  Sherwood,  Cyril  C.  Smith,  John  W.  Smith,  Oliver  P. 
Smith,  William  Warren,  George  H.  Watson,  and  George  H. 
Weare,  enlisted  from  Coos  county,  most  of  whom  saw 
active  service  in  other  organizations,  and  those  now  living 
are  among  our  best  citizens,  while  the  memory  of  many 
of  the  dead  will  dwell  ever  in  our  hearts. 

The  connection  of  the  members  of  this  regiment  with  the 
Grand  Army  is  the  same  as  that  of  any  other  veteran 
organization,  and  a  brief  history  of  this  order,  which  has 
grown  out  of  the  Civil  War,  would  not  be  out  of  place 
wherever  a  war  history  is  written.  Unlike  all  other  orders, 
its  recruiting  field  is  so  limited  that  it  cannot  exist  for  a 
great  period  of  time,  being  dependent  upon  the  lives  of 
those  whose  service  and  honorable  discharge  entitle  them 
to  membership,  none  being  admitted  upon  whom  a  stain 
of  treason  rests,  and  it  is  this  that  binds  its  members  so 
closely  together,  and  finds  such  a  lodgment  in  the  hearts 
of  all  our  loyal  people. 


l8o      SEVENTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE   REGIMENT. 

Conceived  soon  after  the  close  of  the  war,  the  first  post 
was  organized  at  Decatur,  111.,  April  6,  1866,  Dr.  B.  F. 
Stephenson  of  Springfield,  111.,  being  the  prime  mover,  and 
this  was  quickly  followed  by  the  establishment  of  other 
posts  in  Illinois,  Wisconsin,  Indiana,  Ohio,  Iowa,  and 
Missouri.  July  12,  1866,  the  posts  in  Illinois  held  a 
department  encampment  at  Springfield,  the  first  state 
encampment  to  be  organized,  when  Gen.  John  M.  Palmer 
was  elected  department  commander. 

Dr.  Stephenson,  who  was  chiefly  instrumental  in  creating 
the  great  interest  which  so  rapidly  spread  through  all  the 
loyal  states,  at  once  after  the  organization  at  Decatur,  April 
6,  1866,  assumed  charge  of  the  organization  of  posts  in 
other  states,  issued  orders  as  commander-in-chief,  and  on 
Oct.  31,  1866,  about  six  months  after  the  organization  of 
the  first  post  at  Decatur,  he  issued  a  call  for  a  national 
encampment,  which  was  held  at  Indianapolis,  Nov.  2Oth, 
following,  and  which  was  attended  by  representatives  of  the 
order  from  Illinois,  Missouri,  Kansas,  Wisconsin,  New 
York,  Pennsylvania,  Ohio,  Iowa,  Kentucky,  Indiana,  and 
the  District  of  Columbia,  and  General  Stephen  A.  Hurl- 
burt  of  Illinois  was  then  elected  the  first  commander-in- 
chief,  who  had  as  his  valuable  adjutant-general,  Dr.  Steph 
enson,  the  real  founder  of  the  order.  Here  rules  and 
regulations  were  adopted,  upon  the  great  principles  which 
were  the  basis  of  the  order,  viz. :  Fraternity,  Charity,  and 
Loyalty,  the  object  being,  as  then  expressed,  "  To  preserve 
and  strengthen  those  kind  and  fraternal  feelings  which  bind 
together  the  soldiers,  sailors,  and  marines,  who  united  to 
suppress  the  late  rebellion,  and  to  perpetuate  the  memory 
and  history  of  the  dead  ;  to  assist  such  former  comrades  in 
arms  as  need  help  and  protection,  and  to  extend  needful 
aid  to  the  widows  and  orphans  of  those  who  have  fallen  ;  to 
maintain  true  allegiance  to  the  United  States  of  America, 
based  upon  a  paramount  respect  for,  and  fidelity  to,  its  con- 


SEVENTEENTH  MEN  AND    THE    GRAND  ARMY.       l8l 

stitution  and  laws,  to  discountenance  whatever  tends  to 
weaken  loyalty,  incites  to  insurrection,  treason,  or  rebellion, 
or  in  any  manner  impairs  the  efficiency  and  permanency  of 
our  free  institutions ;  and  to  encourage  the  spread  of  uni 
versal  liberty,  equal  rights  and  justice  to  all  men." 

It  was  then  also  given  the  name  of  the  Grand  Army  of 
the  Republic,  which  has  since  extended  throughout  all  the 
states,  and  even  into  foreign  lands,  where  the  veteran  sol 
diers  have  been  found  in  sufficient  numbers  to  maintain  an 
organization  under  its  rules  and  regulations,  and  which  will 
forever  live  in  history,  even  after  the  last  member  has  been 
mustered  out,  as  one  of  the  greatest  orders  which  ever 
existed,  the  influence  of  which  upon  the  fraternal,  charitable, 
and  loyal  future  of  our  great  republic  will  never,  never  die. 

The  first  post  organized  in  New  Hampshire  was  at 
Portsmouth,  Nov.  8,  1867,  followed  by  a  provisional  depart 
ment,  under  the  department  of  Massachusetts,  which  was 
organized  at  Portsmouth,  Nov.  16,  1867,  with  Matthew  T. 
Betton  as  provisional  commander.  Then  followed  the 
organization  of  other  posts  throughout  the  state,  ten  being 
necessary  to  constitute  a  department,  until,  with  a  represen 
tative  convention  held  at  Portsmouth  on  April  30,  1868,  a 
permanent  department  was  organized,  with  Capt.  William 
R.  Patten  of  Manchester,  as  grand  commander.  At  this 
time  there  were  twelve  posts  organized  in  the  state,  and 
from  them  there  was  a  steady  growth  of  the  order  until  it 
became  one  of  the  strongest  and  most  highly  respected  of 
all  state  organizations,  extending  into  every  section  where  a 
sufficient  number  could  be  found  to  enter  its  ranks,  the 
result  being  that  there  are  comparatively  few  veterans  of  the 
Civil  War  within  the  state  whose  names  have  not  appeared 
upon  our  muster  rolls. 

A  full  history  of  this  order,  since  its  conception  at  the 
close  of  the  war,  to  the  present  time,  cannot  here  be  written, 
for  it  would  contain  volumes  instead  of  chapters,  and  should 


l82      SEVENTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE   REGIMENT. 

only  be  thus  written  as  a  "  Grand  Army  History."  It  is 
enough  here  to  know  its  purpose  as  an  organization,  in 
which  the  members  of  the  Seventeenth,  as  of  all  other  regi 
ments,  have  found  a  fraternal  home,  and  have  enjoyed  all 
the  benefits  of  the  order,  several  having  been  from  time  to 
time  honored  by  official  positions  in  the  department,  Col. 
Kent  having  served  as  judge  advocate  upon  the  official  staff 
of  the  department  commander,  and  been  otherwise  honored 
in  its  ranks.  Over  thirty  years  having  passed  since  the 
close  of  the  Civil  War,  the  ranks  of  those  who  served  in  that 
memorable  time  of  our  country's  history,  are  now  becoming 
faster  and  faster  depleted  ;  but  very  few  being  left  at  this 
writing  who  have  not  passed  the  half  century  of  life,  and 
fewer  still,  whose  service  in  camp,  upon  the  field,  and  in  the 
deadly  conflict,  does  not  subject  them  to  an  earlier  call,  and 
to  enrollment  upon  the  long  list  of  the  "  finally  mustered 
out."  This  thus  brings  us,  as  an  order,  upon  the  down 
ward  road  to  dissolution,  when  all  that  is  left  of  its  good 
works  will  be  its  record  upon  the  historic  page. 

There  is,  it  is  true,  a  movement  already  started  to  so 
amend  our  rules  as  to  receive  as  recruits,  all  honorably  dis 
charged  soldiers  and  sailors  engaged  in  our  present  war  with 
Spain,  claiming  that  all  these  are  entitled  to  membership,  as 
soldiers  of  the  republic,  and  that  with  this  new  recruiting 
ground,  the  Grand  Army  would  increase  its  members  and 
its  years,  and  work  out  for  itself  a  much  longer  season  of 
usefulness.  This  may  all  be  true,  and  it  may  be  the  wisest 
and  best  legislation  in  behalf  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the 
Republic,  but  its  full  accomplishment  will  require  many 
changes  which  may  not  meet  the  approval  of  either  the  old 
soldiers  of  the  Civil  War  or  the  new  soldiers  of  1898,  the 
best  interest  of  all  of  which  must  be  consulted,  and  unless 
there  shall  be  full  unity  of  action,  with  one  purpose  only, 
to  preserve  and  maintain  that  fraternity,  charity,  and  loyalty, 
which  are  the  grand  foundation  stones  on  which  the  order 


SEVENTEENTH  MEN  AND    THE    GRAND   ARMY.      183 

rests,  we  must  work  on  until  the  last  old  veteran  lays  down 
his  arms,  and,  with  his  tent  forever  folded,  goes  to  join  the 
vast  Grand  Army  upon  God's  eternal  camping  ground. 

"  Then  though  the  warrior's  sun  has  set, 
Its  light  shall  linger  round  us  yet, — 
Bright,  radiant,  blest." 


CHAPTER  XXXVII. 
THE  Music  AND  SONGS  OF  THE  WAR. 

BY  HON.  JOHN  C.  LINEHAN. 

A  request  from  Col.  Henry  O.  Kent,  to  furnish  material 
for  a  chapter  in  the  history  of  the  Seventeenth  Regiment 
will  explain  my  appearance  as  a  contributor  to  the  work. 
A  request  from  him  is,  to  me,  equivalent  to  a  command. 
A  life-long  personal  friend,  he  is,  and  has  been  since  the 
war,  a  comrade,  in  every  sense  of  the  word.  Few  legisla 
tive  enactments  for  the  benefit  or  relief  of  veterans  or  their 
families  have  been  placed  in  the  statutes  without  the  aid  of 
his  voice,  or  his  vote,  or  both,  and  the  history  of  his  regi 
ment  will  be  the  best  vindication  of  his  character  as  a  citi 
zen  and  a  soldier. 

My  subject,  "The  Music  and  Songs  of  the  War,"  is,  in 
my  opinion,  not  only  pertinent,  but  it  is  one  thus  far  that 
has  not  been  treated  by  any  of  the  writers  on  the  War  of 
the  Rebellion. 

My  service  as  a  musician  in  the  band  of  the  Third  New 
Hampshire  Volunteers  makes  the  subject  also  an  appropri 
ate  one. 

During  the  past  two  years  I  have  spoken  on  the  same 
topic  in  various  parts  of  New  England,  and  what  is  printed 
here  is  largely  a  repetition  of  what  has  been  said  there. 
Had  I  been  favored  with  more  time  I  would  like  to  have 
written  up  the  several  bands  and  drum  corps  serving  in 
regiments  from  this  state,  and  the  part  taken  by  them  in 
camp,  on  the  battlefield,  or  in  the  hospital,  for  duty  called 
them  there,  but  this  was  impossible,  so  I  have  been  obliged 


THE  MUSIC  AND  SONGS   OF   THE    WAR.  185 

to  treat  the  subject  in  a  general  way,  omitting  the  details 
which  would  naturally  be  of  more  interest  to  the  comrades 
serving  in  the  organizations  mentioned. 

"Let  me  but  write  the  songs  of  a  nation  and  I  care  not 
who  makes  its  laws"  is  perhaps  as  great  a  tribute  as  was 
ever  paid  to  the  ballad  singer  or  composer,  by  any  writer, 
ancient  or  modern,  and  it  is  as  true  as  it  is  great.  None 
can  bear  witness  to  this  better  than  those  who  listened  to 
the  music  of  band  or  drum  corps,  in  camp  or  on  the  march, 
at  occasions  of  rejoicing  over  a  victory,  or  at  the  funeral  of 
comrades  after  a  defeat.  From  the  first  reunion  at  Weirs 
down  to  the  last  the  presence  of  a  first-class  military  band 
and  drum  corps  has  been  among  the  principal  features  of 
the  gatherings.  The  bugle  calls,  beginning  at  reveille, 
accompanied  by  the  drum  corps,  and  ending  with  taps, 
together  with  the  firing  of  the  morning  and  evening  guns, 
and  the  raising  and  lowering  of  the  colors,  have  all  been 
vivid  reminders  of  days,  events,  and  of  comrades  long  gone 
by- 
Some  years  ago  when  Captain  "Jack"  Adams  visited 
The  Weirs  for  the  first  time  during  the  annual  reunion,  and 
occupied  the  same  room  with  me,  he  was  waked  in  the 
morning  by  the  cannon,  bugle,  and  drums  combined. 
With  the  notes  of  the  reveille  ringing  in  his  ears,  he  sprang 
from  the  bed,  and  said,  "John,  do  you  always  do  this?" 
"Yes,"  said  I,  "from  the  beginning."  "My  God,"  said 
he,  "that  is  the  real  old  stuff,"  and  the  tears  moistened  his 
eyes,  for  it  was  years  since  he  had  heard  anything  like  it. 
In  a  regiment  of  ten  companies,  with  my  remembrance  of 
the  past,  each  company  was  provided  with  a  drummer  and 
fifer,  and  in  some  regiments,  of  other  states,  a  bugler. 
These  combined  were  styled  field  music,  or  drum  corps. 
One  was  selected  as  chief  with  a  title  of  principal  musician, 
or  drum-major.  The  drum  corps  was  subject  to  his 
orders. 


l86      SEVENTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE   REGIMENT. 

Under  a  special  act  of  Congress,  passed  in  1861, 
many  of  the  regiments  included  in  the  first  call  for  three 
hundred  thousand  men  were  provided  with  regimental 
bands.  The  men  were  enlisted,  not  as  privates,  but  musi 
cians,  and  could  not  be  detailed  for  any  purpose  except 
field  service  during  a  battle,  or  in  the  hospital  when  their 

aid  was  re 
quired.  In  such 
an  event  they 
reported  to  the 
regimental  sur 
geon  who  as 
signed  them  to 
their  duties. 
The  band-mas 
ter  held  the 
rank  and  re 
ceived  the  pay 
of  a  second 
lieutenant.  The 
number  of  men 
authorized  by 
law  was  twen 
ty-four.  They 
were  graded  as 
first,  second , 
and  third  class 
musicians,  with 
pay  in  accord 
ance  with  their  rank.  Between  July  and  September,  bands 
were  organized  for  the  Second,  Third,  Fourth,  and  Fifth 
regiments,  accompanying  their  respective  organizations  to 
the  front,  and  remaining  until  mustered  out  by  act  of  Con 
gress  in  August,  1862.  After  that  date  several  of  the  reg 
iments  provided  themselves  with  bands  by  detailing  men 


HON.  JOHN  C.  LINEMAN. 


THE   MUSIC  AND   SONGS   OF   THE    WAR.  187 

from  the  ranks.  These  men  could  be  returned  to  their 
companies  when  necessary. 

Perhaps  one  of  the  pleasantest  occasions  occurring  at  Hil 
ton  Head,  that  is,  for  the  parties  concerned,  was  that  which 
took  place  on  Thanksgiving  Day,  in  1861,  when  the  Third 
and  Fourth  united  to  celebrate  the  day  in  the  camp  of  the 
former.  There  were  speeches  galore  by  Colonels  Fellows, 
Whipple,  and  Jackson,  Major  Bedell,  Capt.  Donohoe,  and 
others,  interspersed  with  music  by  the  two  bands  attached 
to  each  regiment,  and  led  respectively  by  Walter  Dignam 
and  G.  W.  Ingalls.  So  much  by  way  of  introduction.  As 
has  been  said,  it  would  be  pleasant  were  it  possible,  to  give 
the  details  of  the  service  of  the  musicians  of  the  several 
regiments,  but  it  is  not.  With  a  full  knowledge  of  both  the 
omissions  and  imperfections  which  may  be  found  in  an  arti 
cle  so  hastily  prepared,  I  will  confine  myself  to  the  "  Music 
and  Songs  of  the  War." 

Over  thirty-three  years  have  passed  since  the  close  of  the 
great  Civil  War,  but  the  interest  in  the  contest  which  was 
productive  of  such  grand  results,  is  nearly  as  warm  to-day 
as  it  was  when  the  surrender  of  Lee  decided  the  fate  of  the 
nation.  The  "Official  Record  of  the  Union  and  Con 
federate  Armies  "  published  by  the  government,  The  Cen 
tury  articles,  which  are  almost  innumerable,  and  the  contri 
butions  from  the  many  who  were  participants  on  either 
side,  printed  in  magazine,  journal,  or  quarterly  review,  is 
evidence  of  the  truth  of  what  otherwise  might  seem  an 
exaggeration.  Papers  on  this  or  that  campaign,  criticisms 
of  the  conduct  of  commanders,  histories  of  great  battles 
and  sieges,  beginning  at  Sumter  and  ending  at  Appo- 
mattox,  and  cycloramas  almost  equal  to  nature  itself,  on 
exhibition  in  the  great  cities  of  the  country,  have  made  the 
battlefields  of  the  Civil  War  as  familiar  to  the  schoolboy  as 
to  the  veteran  who  survived  the  great  conflict.  While  every 
side  of  the  struggle  has  been  written  up,  the  political  and 


1 88      SEVENTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE  REGIMENT. 

economical,  the  military  and  naval,  but  very  little  has  been 
said  about  its  sentimental  features, — the  music  and  the 
songs  of  the  war, — which  exercised  a  powerful  influence  in 
the  hour  of  victory  or  on  the  day  of  defeat.  As  a  rule, 
writers  when  drawing  a  comparison  between  the  soldiers  of 
the  North  and  South,  concede  more  sentiment  to  those  from 
Dixie,  but  surely  if  the  feeling  which  finds  expression  in 
music  and  song  is  the  true  sentiment,  then  this  is  an  error^ 
for  that  war  gave  us  here  in  the  North  some  of  the  most 
stirring  songs,  grand,  patriotic,  inspiring  and  tender,  and  its 
close  found  us  familiar  with  its  music,  as  expressed  by  the 
ringing  notes  of  the  bugle  or  the  rattling  beat  of  the  drum. 

"  When  Israel,  of  the  Lord  beloved, 
Out  from  the  land  of  bondage  came, 
Her  father's  God  before  her  moved, 
An  awful  guide  in  smoke  and  flame. 
Then  rose  the  choral  hymn  of  praise, 
And  trump  and  timbrel  answered  keen, 
And  Zion's  daughters  pour'd  their  lays, 
With  priest  and  warrior's  voice  between." 

To  those  who  responded  to  their  country's  call  in  1861, 
this  music  of  the  camp  was  perhaps  the  most  novel,  and 
like  first  love,  its  remembrance  the  most  lasting.  None 
are  to-day  so  old  but  what  the  tones  of  one  and  the  beats 
of  the  other  will  stir  the  blood  to  quicker  circulation,  and 
hasten  the  pulsations  of  the  heart.  How  often  after  the 
fatigue  of  the  day's  duties  in  camp,  or  the  hardships  of  a 
long  march,  has  the  "  Bould  Soger  Boy  "  while  dreaming  of 
home  and  mother,  in  his  tent  or  in  the  trench  been  rudely 
disturbed  in  the  midst  of  his  slumbers,  by  the  clarion  notes 
of  the  bugle  as  it  sounded  the  reveille. 

Hard  as  his  pallet  might  have  been,  either  on  the  board 
floor  of  a  tent,  or  on  the  damp  ground,  he  was  reluctant  to 
part  with  it,  and  only  at  the  last  moment,  with  one  leg  in 
his  trousers,  or  his  jacket  hanging  on  his  arm,  he  was  barely 


THE   MUSIC  AND   SONGS   OF    THE    WAR.  189 

in  time  to  respond   to   his   name  as   the   orderly  called    the 
roll. 

The  roll-call !  What  a  host  of  remembrances  it  brings 
up,  and  its  bare  mention  again  calls  into  life  the  forms  of 
many  who  have  long  passed  away. 

"On  fame's  eternal  camping  ground 
Their  silent  tents  are  spread, 
And  glory  guards  with  solemn  round 
The  bivouac  of  the  dead." 

This  is  not  the  time  or  place  to  speak  of  them  at  length, 
but  still  despite  all  we  can  do  to  prevent  it,  the  notes  of 
the  reveille  remind  us  of  many  comrades  who  fell  on  the 
battlefield,  who  died  in  the  hospital,  or  dragged  out  a 
lingering  existence  in  the  prisons  of  the  South,  where  they 
died  in  thousands,  preferring  death  to  freedom,  when  the 
alternative  was  service  in  the  Confederate  army. 

"  By  fairy  hands  their  knell  is  rung, 
By  forms  unseen  their  dirge  is  sung : 
There  honor  comes,  a  pilgrim  gray, 
To  bless  the  turf  that  wraps  their  clay; 
And  freedom  shall  awhile  repair, 
To  dwell,  a  weeping  hermit  there." 

But  another  feature  of  the  day's  doings,  and  one  which, 
in  the  first  year  of  the  war,  used  to  make  considerable  fun 
for  the  boys,  was  that  which  called  out  the  lame  and  the 
lazy, — the  true  soldier  and  the  bummer,  the  seasoned  old 
veteran  and  the  home-sick  recruit, — the  surgeon's  call. 

Every  ailment  under  the  sun  the  poor  fellows  suffered 
from,  but  quinine  and  whiskey  was  the  cure-all  remedy, 
varied  occasionally  by  the  inevitable  pill,  which  was  the 
surgeon's  best  hold.  "  Arrah,  Doctor,"  said  a  strapping 
Hibernian,  who  made  his  appearance  one  morning  with  his 
blanket  draped  around  his  stalwart  form  like  a  Roman  toga, 
"I  think  that  me  bowls  would  be  a  grate  dale  betther  if 
you'd  let  me  take  the  whiskey  first,  and  lave  a  reasonable 


190      SEVENTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE   REGIMENT. 

time  between  that  and  the  quinine."  The  doctor  could  not, 
however,  see  it  in  that  light,  and  Darby  failed  to  get  it 
"  straight." 

The  gathering  of  the  broom  and  shovel  brigade  followed 
another  well  known  signal, — the  police  call,  when  the  men 
whose  appetites  mastered  their  wills,  were  mustered  for 
their  duties  as  hewers  of  wood  and  carriers  of  water,  scav 
engers  of  the  day,  the  turkey-buzzards  of  the  camp.  Not 
very  pleasant  tasks,  but  a  guard  with  a  musket,  and  fixed 
bayonet,  was  a  gentle  reminder  of  what  might  follow  any 
neglect  in  the  performance  of  a  daily  duty  so  essential  to 
the  health  of  the  camp. 

"  Next  to  the  man  who  invented  sleep,  blessed  is  the 
man  who  discovered  water,"  is  about  the  way  an  old  Span 
ish  saying  runs,  but  the  Yank,  after  his  war  experience, 
would  go  the  Spaniard  one  better  and  exclaim,  Thrice 
blessed  is  the  man  who  discovered  coffee  !  for  in  those  days 
it  was  both  meat  and  drink  for  him,  and  when  was  heard 
the  welcome  notes  of  the  breakfast  call,  happy  indeed  was 
he,  if  in  addition  to  his  coffee  and  hard  tack,  he  had  a 
heaping  plate  of  the  lively,  toothsome,  juicy,  wholesome 
product  of  New  England,  the  symbol  of  Boston  culture 
and  of  true  Americanism, — the  "Old  Army  Bean." 

"  For  the  bean  in  its  primitive  state  is  a  plant  that  is  not  often  met ; 
But  when  cooked  in  the  old  army  style,  it  has  charms  we  can  never 
forget.11 

Now  is  the  time  for  the  dandies  of  the  regiment  to  make 
their  appearance,  and  as  the  bugle  rings  out  the  notes  of 
the  first  sergeant's  call,  the  orderlies  of  each  company, — the 
most  important  men  in  the  corps, — step  forward  promptly 
to  the  adjutant's  quarters,  and  make  their  morning  reports. 
How  much  the  discipline  of  the  company  depended  on  the 
efficiency  of  the  first  sergeant  the  commanders  well  knew  ;  and 
how  many  gallant,  brave  men  exchanged  the  diamond  for  the 
bar,  leaf,  eagle  or  star,  the  roster  of  the  regiment  bears  wit- 


THE   MUSIC  AND  SONGS   OF   THE    WAR.  191 

ness.     Their  experience  in  this,  the   most  practical   school 
of  the  soldier,  fitted  them  for  the  stations  so   many  of  them 
reached  before  the   close   of  the  war,  and   made  their  way 
through  the  civic  walks    of   life    all    the    easier,  where    new 
honors  rewarded  them  for  labors   in   another  field,  proving 
that   "  peace   hath    her  victories    not    less    renowned    than 
those  of  war."     The   President  of  the  Denver  Chamber  of 
Commerce,  Capt.  Roger  W.  Woodbury,  of  the  Third   New 
Hampshire,  a  few  years  ago  one  of  its  most  eminent  bank 
ers,  and  among  its  first  citizens,  wore   the  diamond   on   his 
sleeve  as  orderly  of  a  company  in  one  of  New  Hampshire's 
gallant   infantry   regiments,    and  his    counter-part   will    no 
doubt  be  found    in    many  places  throughout    the    nation. 
Their  reports  once  made,   next   in  order   is   the    signal  for 
guard    mounting,   a    duty  both    practical  and    ornamental, 
second  only  to    the   daily  dress   parades,  and  usually  draw 
ing  a  crowd  of   interested    spectators,  who    enjoy  the    scene 
all  the    more,  if  the   occasion  is  enlivened   by  the  perform 
ance  of  a  first-class   regimental   band.     To  the  lookers-on 
the  music  is  always  a  treat,   breaking   up   the    monotony  of 
camp  life,  and  a  reminder  to  those  on   guard  or   on   picket, 
that  the   hour  of  their  deliverance  is    close   at  hand.     This 
duty  once  performed,  and  the  tired  sentries  relieved,  after  a 
brief  interval,  the  notes  of  a  signal    not  quite   so    welcome, 
the  drill  call,  are  heard,  and  the  new  recruits  hasten  to  learn 
the  first  duty  of   a   soldier,  in    the    awkward   squad.      How 
easy  that  was,  many  poor  fellows  who  found  it  hard  to    dis 
tinguish   the    right  foot  from   the   left,  discovered    to    their 
sorrow,   especially  if  they  were   so    unfortunate   as   to   have 
for  a  drill  sergeant  a   sprig  of   the   Emerald    Isle,  who   had 
seen    service    in    the    "  English  Army,  O,"    and  faced    the 
Russians  in  the  great  charge  at  Balaklava,  or  met  them  breast 
to  breast  on  the  heights  of  Inkerman.      Such   men  had  the 
assurance  of  Napoleon,  the  temper  of  the  great  Frederick, 
and  the  brogue  of  the  true  Milesian. 


192      SEVENTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE   REGIMENT. 

"  Now,  then  listen  to  me,  and  pay  strict  observance  to 
what  I  say.  Remimber  that  the  first  duty  of  a  soldier  is  to 
stand  to  attention,  and  the  next  to  obey  ordhercs.  Whin  I 
say  'Attention  ! '  let  every  man  have  his  eyes  open  and  his 
airs  cocked,  and  listen  for  the  next  ordher  which  will  be 
Forward!  Guide  right!  At  the  word,  Forward,  you  will 
throw  the  weight  of  your  body  on  the  left  leg  and  be  pre 
pared  to  move  whin  you  hear  the  word,  March  !  Now, 
thin,  remimber  the  ordher,  Forward  !  is  only  a  word  of 
warning,  so  as  to  prepare  you  for  what  is  to  follow,  and  at 
the  word  March  !  you  are  to  move  imagitly  with  the  left 
foot  foremost,  keeping  step  to  the  bate  of  the  drum.  Now, 
thin,  Attention  !  Forward  ! — Ha,  ha,  Mulcahey,  bad  luck 
to  you,  didn't  I  tell  you  not  to  move  until  I  said,  March  ! 
Now  back  to  your  places  agin,  and,  by  the  holy  poker,  the 
first  man  anticipates  an  ordher  will  go  to  the  guard-house. 
D'ye  mind  that  now?  Now  thin  have  yer  airs  cocked. 
Attention  !  Forward  !  Guide  right !  March  !  Hep,  hep, 
hep,  hep,  hep,  halt!  Sheehan,  why  in  the  divil  cant  you 
keep  shtep?  Haven't  you  an  air  for  music?"  "  Begor,  it 
isn't  me  air  at  all,  but  me  fut,  that  troubles  me,  Sergeant," 
was  the  reply. 

"  Now,  thin,  boys,  the  first  sign  of  a  good  soldier,  is  to 
have  himself,  his  clothes,  his  gun  and  acouthermints,  as 
nate  and  clane  as  if  he  was  to  be  orclhered  out  at  once  for 
inspection.  I  have  told  you  of  this  before,  and  I  am  sorry 
that  one  at  least  of  the  number,  has  paid  no  attention  to 
what  I  said,  for  his  shirt  is  the  color  of  a  sweep's  apron. 

"  Casey,  step  out  here.  For  God's  sake,  how  long  do  you 
wear  your  shirt?  " 

"  Three  feet  and  three  inches  exactly,  Sergeant,"  was  the 
witty  reply,  which  raised  a  laugh,  but  consigned  him  to  the 
guard-house. 

And  so  the  fun  went  on,  at  squad,  battalion,  or  regimental 
drill,  in  an  infantry,  cavalry  or  artillery  regiment,  and  the 


THE   MUSIC  AND   SONGS   OF   THE    WAR. 


193 


penalties  for  errors  of  omission,  or  commission,  depended 
largely  on  the  character  of  the  commander.  The  advent  of 
Col.  Bob  Williams  at  the  head  of  a  cavalry  regiment  at 
Hilton  Head,  in  the  spring  of  1862,  resulted  in  the  saddles 
being  strapped  on  the  shoulders  of  some  of  the  troopers,  as 
often  nearly  as  on  the  backs  of  their  coursers,  and  in  the 
ranks  of  an  infantry  regiment  encamped  close  by,  with  a 
commander  not  quite  so  strict,  it  was  not  an  uncommon 
sight  to  see  a  stalwart  son  of  Mars  parading  before  the 
guard-house,  with  a  wooden  overcoat  on,  both  punished 
for  failing  to  comply  with  the  rules  of  the  God  of  War, 
whose  ministers  rarely  failed  to  punish  any  offense  against 
their  superior.  It  was  no  wonder  then,  that  the  hearts  of 
both  rank  and  file  were  gladdened,  when  their  ears  were 
greeted  by  the  welcome  notes  of  the  recall,  which  was  an 
announcement  of  the  conclusion  of  the  forenoon's  duties. 

It  was  then  with  a  chastened  spirit,  an  empty  stomach, 
and  a  ravenous  appetite  that  the  line  of  march  was  taken 
for  the  mess  tent,  in  response  to  the  cheery  notes  of  the 
"  Roast  Beef  of  Old  England,"  the  dinner  call,  though  if 
the  truth  was  known,  the  "  Salt  hoss  of  America  "  or  the 
smoked  bacon  of  the  wild  west,  would  come  nearer  the  mark, 
and  happy  was  the  man  who  had  a  good  supply  of  either 
in  the  last  year  of  the  war,  and  an  adequate  store  of  hard 
tack  to  go  with  it,  which  was  sound  enough  to  stand  alone 
without  being  hitched.  It  took  time  to  appreciate  the 
despised  hard-tack  of  the  first  year  of  the  war,  but  con 
stant  intercourse  brought  the  soldiers  to  love  it,  and  ex 
perience  taught  the  expert  to  serve  it  up  in  as  many  ways 
as  the  prolific  hen-fruit  or  the  plebeian  potato.  It  is  enough 
to  make  a  man  smile  to  look  back  at  his  first  week's 
or  month's  experience  in  camp  ;  his  horror  of  being  de 
prived  of  butter  for  his  bread,  and  milk  for  his  tea  or  coffee, 
and  his  complaints  in  consequence  to  the  "Old  folks  at 

home,"  when   he   had  time  to  write  to  them,  and  then  to 
13 


194      SEVENTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE   REGIMENT. 

think  of  the  fault-finding  with  the  company  cooks,  whose 
lives  were  a  burden  until  they  were  unceremoniously  re 
duced  to  the  ranks,  only  to  be  very  often  followed  by  their 
successors  before  they  had  time  to  wash  the  pots  and  kettles 
after  their  first  meals. 

Many  are  the  stories  told  of  the  experiments  made  in 
trying  to  vary  the  scant  dishes  found  even  in  the  mess  of 
the  field  and  staff  of  a  regiment  at  the  front  in  1864.  One 
of  the  best  is  that  related  by  General  Henry  of  Vermont. 
A  Vermonter  is  selected  as  authority, — for  a  son  of  the 
Green  Mountain  State,  whatever  his  faults  are,  will  neither 
lie  nor  steal  except  to  save  the  Union.  At  one  time  in  the 
winter  of  1864,  General  Henry's  associates  of  the  regi 
mental  mess  got  a  longing  for  a  meal  of  old-fashioned  hash, 
and  they  were  bound  to  have  it  if  it  cost  them  the  last 
dollar  in  the  mess  fund,  or  the  cook's  life  in  collecting  the 
necessary  ingredients.  After  a  great  deal  of  trouble,  the 
meat  and  potatoes  were  procured,  and  it  was  not  long 
before  the  cook  had  them  in  readiness  for  mixing  in  an 
improvised  chopping  tray.  Having  occasion  to  go  out  of 
the  tent  on  some  errand  or  other,  he  placed  the  dish  on 
a  rickety  shelf,  beneath  one  equally  as  insecure  on 
which  were  placed  his  supply  of  candles,  etc.  He  was 
one  of  the  best  culinary  artists  in  the  regiment,  but  un 
fortunately  was  near-sighted, which  in  this  instance  was  the 
occasion  of  grief  to  his  superiors.  On  his  return  he  took 
his  tray  and  knife,  and  in  a  short  time  the  mess  \vas  in 
proper  shape  for  the  pan,  and  it  was  not  very  long  before 
the  glad  announcement  was  made,  that  the  banquet  was 
ready.  Surely  a  more  dainty  looking  or  savory  smelling 
dish  of  hash  was  never  set  before  a  Vermont  farmer.  Its 
very  appearance  took  them  back  to  the  Green  Mountains, 
and  both  eyes  and  mouth  watered  at  the  remembrance  of 
the  one,  and  the  toothsome  appearance  of  the  other.  Gen 
eral  Henry  was  the  first  to  respond  to  the  cook's  call, 


THE   MUSIC  AND   SONGS   OF   THE    WAR.  195 

and  in  the  twinkling  of  an  eye,  a  large  table-spoonful  found 
its  way  between  his  capacious  jaws.  The  taste  was  not  up 
to  the  looks  hardly,  the  general  making  a  wry  face. 
"  What  in  the  devil  makes  the  stuff  taste  so,"  he  said,  "  it 
looks  all  right?"  "Well,  I  can't  see,"  said  the  cook,  "  put 
some  pepper  sauce  on  it,  and  try  it  again."  The  general 
followed  his  advice,  and  with  the  assistance  of  the  pepper 
sauce,  made  a  hearty  meal.  He  was  in  turn  followed  by  the 
several  officers  of  the  field  and  staff,  from  the  lieutenant- 
colonel  to  the  chaplain,  all  of  whom  found  the  same  fault 
as  the  general,  with  the  first  mouthful,  but  like  him,  an  ap 
plication  of  the  pepper  sauce  seasoned  the  lump,  and  the 
result  was,  that  when  all  were  filled,  but  little  of  the  hash 
was  left,  some  three  or  four  tablespoonfuls,  and  this,  the  cook, 
being  a  liberal  fellow,  turned  over  to  the  little  darkey,  who 
was  his  man  of  all  work.  He  had  but  barely  tasted  of  his 
spoonful,  when  he  blurted  out,  "Who  in  de  debbil  put  de 
soap  in  dat  hash  ?"  The  mystery  was  explained,  for  the  cook 
on  the  impulse  of  the  moment  burst  out, — "Wrell,  there,  I 
couldn't  think  where  in  thunder  my  bar  of  soap  went  to." 
It  seems  that  when  he  put  the  dish  with  the  material 
for  the  hash  in  it  on  the  shelf,  a  bar  of  soap  on  the  shelf 
above  had  slid  into  it,  and  the  cook  being  near-sighted, 
not  noticing  the  addition,  had  chopped  it  up  with  the 
meat  and  vegetables,  and  the  field  and  staff  officers  of 
the  gallant  Vermont  regiment  had  actually  eaten  two 
pounds  of  soap,  well  seasoned  with  pepper  sauce.  It 
remained  for  the  little  contraband  to  make  the  discovery, 
thus  proving  that  if  he  was  ignorant  of  maple  sugar,  he 
was  no  slouch  on  common  bar  soap. 

But  the  hour  is  arriving  for  the  event  of  the  day  when,  if 
the  regiment  is  in  camp  in  the  vicinity  of  a  town,  a  crowd 
is  sure  to  attend. 

The  companies  are  forming  in  their  respective  streets, 
there  is  a  bustle  that  denotes  something  of  importance 


196      SEVENTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE  REGIMENT. 

about  to  occur,  and  the  appearance  of  the  men  dressed  in 
their  very  best,  the  tooting  of  horns  in  the  band  quarters, 
and  the  gorgeous  figure  of  the  drum-major,  who  stands 
majestically  sucking  the  silver  head  of  his  baton,  all  impress 
the  stranger,  who  is  mystified  and  his  understanding  made 
no  clearer  by  the  notes  of  the  assembly,  which  are  quickly 
followed  by  the  adjutant's  call  for  dress  parade. 

One  of  the  most  pleasing  reminiscences  of  the  first  year 
of  the  war  is  the  regimental  dress  parade, — and  at  the  same 
time,  one  of  the  saddest,  for  it  was  before  the  great  battles 
of  the  Rebellion  had  so  frightfully  decimated  the  ranks  of 
many  gallant  regiments,  and  Fredericksburg,  Gettysburg, 
Chancellorsville,  the  Wilderness,  and  many  other  sanguinary 
conflicts  were  hidden  in  the  merciful  future.  Those  were 
the  days  when  the  boys  of  New  Hampshire  were  so  proud  of 
their  commanders,  as,  opposite  the  colors  on  dress  parade, 
they  put  them  through  the  manual  of  arms.  Bell  and  Fort 
Fisher,  Cross  and  Gettysburg,  Putnam  and  Wagner,  Lull 
and  Port  Hudson,  and  Gardiner  and  Winchester  will  be 
names  forever  inseparable. 

One  instance  of  the  effect  of  music  will  not  be  out  of 
place  to  mention  here.  On  the  i/th  of  March,  the  anniver 
sary  of  a  holiday,  dear  to  many  born  in  another  country, 
but  identified  with  the  destinies  of  this  nation  since  its  be 
ginning,  the  Third  New  Hampshire  Infantry  was  encamped 
on  Hilton  Head  Island,  South  Carolina.  In  its  ranks  was 
a  company  of  men  of  Irish  birth  or  of  direct  Irish  origin, 
commanded  by  the  genial,  brave  Capt.  M.  T.  Donohoe, 
later,  Colonel  of  the  Tenth  N.  H.  Volunteers.  It  occurred 
to  a  young  fellow,  a  member  of  the  regimental  band,  that 
it  would  not  be  inappropriate  to  have  the  air  so  dear  to 
every  son  of  the  Emerald  Isle,  played  at  troop  during  dress 
parade.  The  band-master  was  only  too  glad  to  arrange  for 
a  surprise,  for  up  to  that  day  the  tune  had  not  been  played 
in  the  regiment,  the  air  not  being  in  the  band  book's 


THE  MUSIC  AND   SONGS   OF   THE    WAR. 


197 


score.  When  evening  arrived,  and  the  regiment  was  at 
parade  rest,  the  men  all  having  that  listless  appearance 
which  was  but  the  natural  consequence  of  a  daily  duty  be 
fore  facing  the  real  life  of  active  service,  the  drums  beat  for 
troop,  and  the  band,  headed  by  the  drum-major,  marched 
down  the  centre,  keeping  step  to  a  lively  waltz. 

On  arriving  at  the  left  of  the  line,  it  countermarched, 
halted  for  a  moment,  and  then  moved  forward  to  the  tune 
of  "  St.  Patrick's  Day  in  the  Morning."  Every  man  did  his 
level  best,  and  every  eye  was  fixed  on  Co.  C,  which  was  the 
second  company  on  the  left,  and  all  were  rewarded,  for  it 
seemed  as  if  an  electric  shock  had  struck  the  boys,  and  in 
spite  of  all  they  could  do  to  prevent  it,  parade  rest  was  for 
gotten,  and  each  man  straightened  up  like  a  grenadier  for 
inspection,  muscles  rigid,  eyes  brightened,  cheeks  tear- 
stained,  and  hearts  softened  at  the  recollection  of  homes, 
which  many  were  destined  never  to  see,  and  friends  whose 
eyes  would  never  be  gladdened  by  their  presence.  It  was 
but  natural  that  a  little  celebration  was  held  in  the  captain's 
tent  after  dress  parade,  and  the  occasion  made  one  to  be 
remembered  by  all  who  participated. 

The  forming  of  the  regiment  into  a  hollow  square  after 
exercise  in  the  manual  of  arms,  and  the  reading  of 
orders,  usually  followed,  when  the  parade  closed  with 
prayer  by  the  chaplain.  Quarters  were  reached  in  season 
for  the  supper  call,  when  to  those  not  detailed  for  guard 
duty  the  day's  labor  was  practically  over,  and  the  time  taken 
in  writing,  reading,  grumbling,  criticising  their  superior  offi 
cers,  taking  a  hand  at  high-low-jack,  euchre,  whist,  poker  or 
forty-five  until  that  unwelcome  signal,  the  tattoo,  gave  notice 
that  it  was  about  time  to  retire,  quickly  followed  by  taps, 
which  announced  the  arrival  of  the  hour  when  "  lights  out" 
was  the  order,  and  blanket  street  the  thoroughfare.  None 
of  the  ceremonies  at  the  funeral  of  General  Grant  attracted 
more  attention  than  those  at  the  tomb,  when  the  bugler,  at 


198      SEVENTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE  REGIMENT. 

the  moment  the  coffin  was  assigned  to  its  place,  sounded 
taps,  announcing  that  one  of  our  greatest  lights  had  been 
quenched  forever.  The  same  ceremony  took  place  at  the 
grave  of  General  Sheridan,  when  his  remains  were  consigned 
to  the  grave  on  the  sloping  lawn  of  Arlington  Heights, 
where  his  body  rests  very  appropriately  leading  the  silent 
army  of  16,000,  whose  remains,  like  his,  are  within  view  of 
the  capitol  that  was  saved  through  their  valor. 

But  there  was  music  of  another  character,  to  which  our 
ears  became  accustomed  in  time, — the  rollicking  tunes 
played  during  the  marches,  after  reveille  in  the  morning, 
and  just  before  tattoo  in  the  evening.  Many  of  them  were 
familiar  to  our  fathers'  ears, — 

"  For  we  are  the  same  our  fathers  have  been, 
We  see  the  same  sights  our  fathers  have  seen, 
We  drink  the  same  stream,  we  view  the  same  sun, 
And  run  the  same  course  our  fathers  have  run.17 

and  heard  on  the  field  of  Waterloo,  at  Fontenay,  in  the  In 
dies,  and  on  the  Plains  of  Abraham,  where  the  fleur-de-lis 
went  down  before  the  cross  of  St.  George.  "Yankee 
Doodle,"  "The  White  Cockade,"  "The  Bold  Soldier  Boy," 
"  St.  Patrick's  Day,"  "  Larry  O'Gaff,"  "Jefferson's  Liberty," 
"Garry  Owen,"  "  Sprig  of  Shillalah,"  and  many  others  whose 
lively  bars  played  by  a  good  fife  and  drum  corps,  dispelled 
the  weariness  of  a  long  march.  Occasionally  these  lively 
airs  were  exchanged  for  those  of  a  more  solemn  character, 
like  the  "Dead  March  in  Saul."  "  Pleyel's  Hymn,"  "Amer 
ica,"  etc.,  as  the  remains  of  those  who  died  of  disease  or 
wounds  were  conveyed  to  their  last  resting-place. 

"  Two  wounded  soldiers  lay  on  the  battlefield, 
At  night  when  the  sun  went  down  ; 
One  held  a  lock  of  thin  grey  hair, 
And  one  held  a  lock  of  brown  ; 
One  thought  of  his  sweetheart  back  at  home, 
Happy,  and  young  and  gay, 


THE   MUSIC  AND  SONGS   OF   THE    WAR.  199 

And  one  of  his  mother  left  alone, 
Feeble  and  old  and  grey." 

This 'part  of  the  theme  could  not  well  conclude  without 
alluding  to  one  tune  never  heard  with  credit  to  the  men  for 
whom  it  was  played, — the  signal  of  disgrace,  dishonor,  and 
loss  of  manhood,  for  nothing  could  be  more  discreditable 
than  to  be  drummed  out  of  the  service,  at  the  point  of  the 
bayonet,  to  the  music  of  the  rogue's  march. 

It  was  an  air  not  often  played,  but  once  heard  under  such 
circumstances  was  not  soon  forgotten. 

SONGS    OF   THE    WAR. 

"  Sing  them  upon  the  sunny  hills, 
When  days  are  long  and  bright, 
And  the  blue  gleam  of  shining  rills 
Is  loveliest  to  the  sight ; 
Sing  them  along  the  misty  moor, 
Where  ancient  hunters  roved, 
And  swell  them  through  the  torrent's  roar, 
The  songs  oar  fathers  loved." 

There  is  no  feature  of  the  late  unpleasantness  that  to-day 
awakens  more  enthusiasm  than  the  singing  of  the  old  war 
songs  connected  with  the  great  rebellion.  A  good  illustra 
tion  of  the  truth  of  this  was  furnished  at  the  National  Con 
vention  of  the  Republican  Party  in  Chicago  in  1888,  when 
the  vast  audience  in  the  spacious  tabernacle,  numbering 
between  ten  and  fifteen  thousand,  taking  its  cue  from  some 
remark  of  one  of  the  speakers,  burst  out  in  an  irresistible 
volume  of  song  which  swept  everything  before  it,  and  for 
thirty  minutes,  despite  the  efforts  of  presiding  officer,  police 
men,  and  ushers,  the  chorus  of  that  grand  old  song  illus 
trative  of  Sherman's  march  to  the  sea,  rang  out  again  and 
again,  until  the  refrain  was  taken  up  by  the  multitude  out 
side,  and  its  echoes  sent  surging  across  the  broad  bosom  of 
Lake  Michigan.  Again  in  the  summer  of  1883,  when  the 


200      SEVENTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE   REGIMENT. 

National  encampment  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic 
was  held  at  Denver,  Colorado,  similar  scenes  were  witnessed 
on  the  plains  between  Omaha  and  Julesburgh. 

If  was  the  first  occasion  since  the  close  of  the  war,  that 
the  veteran  soldiers  from  all  parts  of  the  country  had  an 
opportunity  to  renew  old  friendships,  and  form  new  ones. 
Many  had  with  them  their  wives,  and  children,  for  the  rates 
were  cheap,  and  it  was  not  an  unusual  sight  to  see  old  men 
and  women,  who  had  left  the  Eastern  states  thirty  or  forty 
years  before  to  found  homes  in  the  great  West,  on  the 
lookout  for  friends,  or  the  children  of  friends,  from  New 
England.  The  department  of  Nebraska — a  state  made  up 
largely  of  old  soldiers — had  printed  for  free  distribution 
the  old  songs  we  used  to  sing  when  we  were  boys,  forty 
years  ago,  "Do  they  miss  me  at  home?"  "The  old  folks 
at  home,"  "  Massa's  in  the  cold,  cold  ground,"  "Nellie 
Gray,"  "Dearest  May,"  "  Roll  on  silver  moon,"  etc.,  inter 
spersed  with  the  compositions  of  the  war  period.  It  is  not 
too  much  to  say  that  there  is  not  one  who  went  across  the 
plains  on  that  memorable  occasion  can  ever  forget  it,  for  at 
intervals  while  waiting  for  a  train  due  from  the  opposite 
direction,  the  occupants  of  five  long  sections,  numbering 
nearly  three  thousand,  all  got  out  of  the  cars  and  massed 
closely,  led  by  one  of  the  party,  on  top  of  a  barrel  or  box, 
sang  again  and  again  the  old  songs  and  the  new,  on  the 
plains  which  were  but  a  few  years  before  occupied  only  by 
the  now  nearly  extinct  buffalo,  and  his  savage  master,  the 
red  Indian.  How  enjoyable  all  this  was  to  the  older  mem 
bers  of  the  party,  can  be  inferred  from  an  incident  which 
took  place  in  a  little  hamlet,  named  Como,  in  the  South 
Park,  on  the  return  trip  through  the  mountains,  between 
Leadville  and  Denver.  While  eating  breakfast  here,  and 
feeling  quite  homesick,  for  friends  were  scattered  in  one 
direction  or  another,  some  even  on  the  home-stretch,  a  very 
pleasant-faced  old  lady,  evidently  between  sixty  and  seventy 


THE  MUSIC  AND   SONGS   OF   THE    WAR.  2OI 

years  old,  wearing  gold-bowed  glasses,  approached  me,  and 
said,  with  such  a  wistful,  motherly  expression,  accompany 
ing  the  words,  ''Isn't  this  Mr.  Linehan?"  "Yes,  ma'am," 
said  I,  naturally  a  little  surprised.  "  Oh,  dear  !  "  said  she, 
"  I  do  wish  you  would  sing  again  one  of  those  old  songs. 
I  have  been  living  among  strangers  since  I  left  New  Hamp 
shire  for  Wisconsin,  over  thirty  years  ago.  They  do  not 
know  our  ways,  or  sing  our  songs,  and  I  would  so  love  to 
hear  them  sung  once  more  before  I  die,"  and  her  eyes  filled 
with  tears.  "  My  God,  ma'am,"  said  I,  "  you  are  asking  too 
much.  There  is  a  great  difference  in  one's  feelings  between 
going  out  and  coming  back ;  here  I  am  alone,  my  New 
Hampshire  friends  are  all  gone.  My  thoughts  are,  not 
exactly  on  home  and  mother,  but  rather  on  wife  and  chil 
dren,  and  I  could  no  more  sing  than  talk  Gaelic  to  a  High 
lander.  In  fact,  I  feel  more  like  uniting  with  you  in  having 
a  good  cry."  This  set  her  laughing,  for  like  a  good  sensible 
soul,  she  saw  the  situation,  as  many  others  can,  who  have 
been  in  the  same  position.  The  result  was  that  the  balance 
of  the  ride  to  Denver  was  quite  pleasant,  with  the  old  lady 
for  a  companion. 

When  the  Sherman  expedition  was  on  the  way  for  the 
capture  of  Port  Royal,  in  November,  1861,  it  was  overtaken 
by  a  terrible  storm  which  lasted  three  days.  It  was  nothing 
new  for  me  to  experience  a  blow  on  the  ocean,  for  I  had 
been  all  through  it,  when  coming  to  the  country  twelve 
years  before,  and  it  proved  to  be  so  attractive  that  I  re 
mained  on  deck  until  darkness  set  in.  Consequently  the 
hour  was  late  when  I  turned  in,  down  two  stories,  next  to 
the  temporary  hospital,  and  were  it  not  for  the  imperative 
call  of  Morpheus,  I  believe  I  would  have  staid  on  deck  all 
night.  Some  of  the  poor  fellows  by  my  side  were  quite 
sick,  one  was  already  in  a  high  fever,  at  times  out  of  his 
head.  He  was  only  a  boy  of  17,  and  it  was  pitiful  to  hear 
him  call  in  his  delirium  for  his  mother.  At  other  times  he 


202       SEVENTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE  REGIMENT. 

would  burst  out  singing  the  hymns  he  had  so  often  sung  at 
home.  One  in  particular  he  was  forever  singing,  "  Green 
ville,"  and  I  can  never  hear  it  now  but  the  whole  scene,  like 
a  picture,  is  brought  before  my  view,  the  bunks,  three  high, 
each  having  two  occupants,  with  an  alley  separating  them 
and  completely  filling  the  space  between  decks,  the  dim 
light,  the  foul  air,  the  pitching  of  the  vessel,  the  creak 
ing  of  the  timbers,  the  clank  of  the  machinery,  the 
charring  and  joking  of  the  well,  and  the  complaints  of 
the  unfortunate  seasick,  or  the  moans  of  the  poor  fever- 
stricken  boy  in  the  hospital  by  my  side. 

The  second  day  out  and  the  second  night  following  were 
of  the  same  character  as  those  preceding,  mild  and  pleasant, 
but,  although  the  dreaded  Hatteras  had  been  passed,  there 
was  a  change  on  the  evening  of  the  third  day ;  a  terrible 
storm  blew  up,  whose  memories  will  never  be  forgotten  by 
those  who  were  for  three  days  at  its  mercy.  By  midnight 
it  was  impossible  to  stand,  sit,  or  lie  still.  The  whistling  of 
the  wind  through  the  rigging,  the  creaking  of  the  timbers, 
the  pitching  and  rolling  of  the  heavily  laden  steamer,  the 
swash  of  the  waves  against  the  sides  of  the  ship  and  the 
constant  clank,  clank,  clank  of  the  engines,  as  well  as  the 
fears  of  what  might  happen,  kept  us  all  awake  ;  and,  as  if 
to  make  it  more  frightful  the  poor  fellow  stricken  with  fever 
was  singing  "  Greenville  "  at  the  top  of  his  voice,  his  feel 
ings  seeming  to  be  in  harmony  with  the  storm,  which  howled 
and  screamed  like  a  pack  of  demons.  Night  brought  no 
cessation  of  the  storm.  The  port  holes  which  had  usually 
been  left  open  to  enable  us  to  get  fresh  air,  were  now  closed, 
screwed  up  tight,  and  to  add  to  our  misery,  the  atmos 
phere  was  indescribably  foul  in  consequence. 

The  result  was  that  all  were  pretty  well  discouraged ; 
that  is,  all  but  the  delirious  boy,  whose  strength  seemed,  if 
anything,  to  gain  with  the  storm.  Above  the  moans  of  the 
seasick,  the  roar  of  the  waves,  which  was  frightful,  and  the 


THE    MUSIC  AND   SONGS   OF   THE    WAR.  203 

regular  clank  of  the  machinery  which  was  ever  at  work, 
arose  his  voice  singing  ''Greenville."  Completely  tired  out 
I  finally  fell  asleep,  only  to  be  awakened  by  a  rush  of  waters 
and  the  yells  of  those  around  me.  For  a  moment  I  thought 
we  were  going  to  the  bottom,  for  it  seemed  as  if  the  vessel 
had  turned  over.  I  was  not  alone  in  that  opinion,  for  some 
were  praying,  thinking  their  last  hour  had  come  sure,  but 
the  fact  that  we  were  still  afloat  gave  us  a  little  courage. 

We  found  one  of  the  bull's  eyes  which  had  been  simply 
closed  without  being  screwed  up,  one  of  the  boys  leaving  it 
in  that  shape  to  get  a  little  fresh  air,  had  been  burst  open 
by  an  immense  wave  which  had  almost  capsized  the  ship, 
and  through  this  aperture  came  in  an  immense  quantity  of 
water,  nearly  drowning  us  out,  as  well  as  frightening  us  to 
death,  before  we  found  out  the  cause.  Although  the  danger 
was  over,  sleep  was  out  of  the  question.  The  old  familiar 
sounds  of  the  tempest,  the  creaking  of  the  timbers,  and  the 
steady,  monotonous  action  of  the  machinery  were  still  heard, 
but  something  was  missing.  I  turned  round  and  faced  the 
bunk  on  which  the  singer  was  lying,  but  his  voice  was  still. 

I  raised  myself  up  on  my  elbow,  and  by  the  dim  light  of 
the  lamp  I  could  see  his  pale,  white  face  and  outstretched 
arms.  Poor  fellow  !  his  troubles  were  over,  and  "Green 
ville  "  is  never  heard  but  the  memories  of  that  terrible  night 
are  brought  fresh  to  my  mind. 

This  event  was  mentioned  in  an  article  published  in  the 
Boston  Journals,  few  years  ago,  and  it  was  stated  that  the 
boy's  name  was  not  known,  neither  could  it  be  told  what 
became  of  the  body.  The  article  was  read  by  Perry  Kit- 
tredge  of  Concord,  who  was  hospital  steward  of  the  Third 
N.  H.  He  said  the  boy's  name  was  Amasa  Niles ;  that  he 
remembered  the  event  very  well ;  that  the  officer  of  the  day 
desired  to  have  the  body  thrown  overboard,  but  he  pro 
tested  against  it,  and  succeeded  in  bringing  it  ashore  and 
giving  it  burial  at  Hilton  Head. 


204       SEVENTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE  REGIMENT. 

Those  of  us  well  up  in  the  fifties,  will  remember  the 
thrilling  scene  so  often  described  by  English  writers,  which 
occurred  during  the  long  siege  of  Lucknow,  how  when  the 
garrison,  reduced  by  exposure  and  starvation,  was  on  the 
point  of  surrendering  to  the  Sepoys,  Jessie  Brown,  whose 
hearing  had  been  sharpened  by  famine,  and  the  desire  to 
see  the  long-looked  for  re-enforcements,  heard  in  the  dis 
tance  the  shrill  strains  of  the  pibroch,  as  the  well  known 
bag-pipes  of  the  Highlands  were  called,  playing  the  "  Camp 
bells  are  coming,"  and  in  a  frenzy  she  burst  out,  "Dinna 
ye  no  hear  the  pibroch,"  and  most  assuredly  the  Camp 
bells  did  come,  the  distressed  garrison  was  relieved,  and 
one  of  the  most  affecting  and  brilliant  episodes  of  the 
English  in  the  East  Indies  placed  on  record,  the  memories 
of  which  exist  to  this  day. 

An  incident  hardly  in  line  with  this  occurred,  it  is  said, 
during  the  Civil  War.  A  volunteer  regiment  from  New 
York,  was  composed  largely  of  the  sons  of  old  Scotia. 
They  had  with  them,  in  addition  to  the  band  and  drum 
corps,  a  section  of  bag-pipe  players.  In  one  of  the  en 
gagements  in  which  the  regiment  took  part,  a  soldier  had 
one  of  his  limbs  badly  fractured  by  the  explosion  of  a 
shell.  He  was  taken  for  treatment  to  a  temporary  hos 
pital  connected  with  another  regiment,  which  was  made 
up  mainly  of  Americans.  He  was  so  weak  that  when 
the  amputation  of  the  leg  was  finished,  the  surgeon  in 
charge  entertained  but  little  hopes  of  his  recovery. 

When  Sandy  became  fully  conscious,  realizing  his  situa 
tion,  he  looked  up  piteously  to  the  surgeon,  and,  in  a 
quivering  voice,  said,  "  Docther,  am  I  gaang  to  dee  ?"  "  I  am 
afraid  you  are,  Sandy,"  replied  the  surgeon  in  a  sympa 
thetic  voice.  "Is  there  anything  I  can  do  for  you  while 
you  remain  here?"  Sandy  looked  at  him  mournfully,  and 
said,  "  Docther,  I  wad  like  to  hear  the  pibroch,  before  I 
dee."  This  touched  the  surgeon's  heart.  He  sent  at  once  to 


THE   MUSIC  AND   SONGS   OF   THE    WAR.  205 

the  camp  of  the  Scotch  regiment  for  a  piper,  and  in  a  short 
time  he  made  his  appearance  in  tartan  and  kilt,  and  Sandy's 
heart  was  gladdened  by  the  strains  of  the  "  Bonnie  blue 
bells  of  Scotland,"  and  the  other  tunes  which  are  so  dear  to 
the  heart  of  every  true  son  of  the  land  of  Wallace  and  Scott. 
The  result  was  that  in  a  short  time,  in  his  enfeebled  con 
dition,  the  music  had  a  soothing  effect,  and  he  fell  into 
a  gentle  slumber,  the  piper  meanwhile  withdrawing.  On 
awaking,  the  surgeon  was  surprised  to  find  his  pulse  better, 
and  the  patient  very  much  stronger.  Again  he  asked  Sandy 
if  there  was  anything  else  he  could  do  for  him.  He,  poor 
fellow,  made  another  request  to  have  the  piper  play  for  him. 
He  came,  and  the  effect  was  the  same  as  at  first.  With 
his  ears  filled  with  the  ear  piercing  strains  of  the  pipes 
Sandy  again  fell  asleep,  only  to  awake  after  a  long  slumber, 
stronger  than  ever.  This  time  he  partook  of  some  nourish 
ing  food,  and  again  begged  for  the  piper.  To  make  a  long 
story  short,  as  the  surgeon  tells  it,  to  everybody's  surprise, 
the  Scotchman  recovered,  and  lived  for  many  years  to  draw 
a  well-earned  pension.  The  doctor  never  tires  of  telling 
the  story,  as  he  too  is  a  great  believer  in  the  effect  of 
music  and  of  song.  When  recently  he  had  narrated  it  to 
an  interested  group  of  listeners,  a  lady  in  the  party  burst 
out,  "  Why,  doctor,  that  was  something  marvelous."  "  Yes, 
it  was,"  said  he,  "but  I  haven't  given  you  the  sequel, — 
while  the  music  of  the  pipes  was  the  means  of  saving  San 
dy's  life,  it  caused  the  death  of  every  other  patient  in  the 
hospital." 

"Yankee  Doodle  came  to  town  riding  on  a  pony"  just 
on  the  eve  of  the  Revolution,  but  before  that  struggle  was 
ended,  the  pony  became  a  full  grown  steed,  and  his  master 
made  the  haughty  British  grenadiers  dance  many  a  step  to 
its  lively  strains,  so  that  during  the  first  quarter  of  a  cen 
tury  of  the  Republic,  the  humble  ditty  sung  to  ridicule  the 
pioneer  soldiers  of  the  Union,  became  the  National  air  of 


206      SEVENTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE   REGIMENT. 

America,  retaining  its  place  until,  from  out  of  the  storm 
which  burst  on  Baltimore  in  the  bombardment  of  the 
British  in  the  war  of  1812,  it  was  replaced  by  one  more 
appropriate  and  well  worthy  of  the  occasion  which  gave  it 
birth. 

No  national  song  in  existence  had  a  more  dramatic,  or 
patriotic  origin,  and  yet,  but  scant  praise  has  been  given  to 
its  author.  The  name  of  Roger  DeLisle  is  known  to  every 
school  boy  in  France  as  the  author  of  the  French  National 
anthem.  The  occasion  of  its  composition  has  been  told  in 
story  and  song,  and  its  creator  immortalized  in  marble  and 
bronze, — but  how  many  of  us  are  familiar  with  the  story  of 
the  young  American  volunteer,  who,  while  conveying  under 
the  cover  of  darkness  a  message  to  the  commander  of 
Fort  McHenry,  was  captured  in  Baltimore  Harbor  by  a 
boat's  crew  of  British  tars,  taken  on  board  the  English 
flag-ship,  and  on  giving  his  parole,  allowed  the  liberty  of 
the  vessel.  Sleep  had  no  charms  for  him,  for  he  remained  on 
deck  the  livelong  night,  watching  and  waiting,  and  praying, 
while  the  guns  of  the  enemy  thundered  on  the  fort,  which 
was  the  only  bulwark  between  Baltimore  and  destruction. 
The  long  night  finally  came  to  an  end,  and  the  first  streak 
of  the  morning  light  found  him  still  at  his  post,  striving 
vainly  to  pierce  the  cloud  of  sulphurous  smoke  which  en 
veloped  Fort  McHenry. 

But  he  was  repaid  for  his  long  and  \veary  vigil.  The 
morning  breeze  finally  raised  the  curtain,  and  revealed  to 
his  delighted  eyes  his  country's  standard,  the  Star  Span 
gled  Banner  which  still  floated,  beautiful  and  defiant,  above 
the  ramparts  which  had  saved  Baltimore  from  the  fate 
of  Washington.  Was  it  any  wonder  then  that  his  feelings, 
repressed  during  the  long  hours  of  suspense  and  anxiety, 
found  expression  in  the  song  which,  regardless  of  all  rivals, 
still  remains  the  National  air  of  America, — 


THE   MUSIC  AND   SONGS   OF   THE    WAR.  2O/ 

"And  the  Star  Spangled  Banner, 

Oh,  long  may  it  wave, 
O'er  the  land  of  the  free, 

And  the  home  of  the  brave." 

Its  triumphant  strains  were  heard  when  the  Confederate 
flag  went  down  before  Dupont's  fleet  at  Port  Royal,  in  the 
autumn  of  1861,  and  its  exultant  notes  filled  the  air,  when 
the  standard  it  represents  went  up  over  the  ruins  of  Sum- 
ter  three  years  later.  Glorious  banner  !  the  rallying  point 
of  heroes  on  the  battlefield,  and  the  symbol  of  liberty  the 
world  over.  While  the  memories  of  the  Civil  War  last,  no 
other  flag  can  replace  thee. 

If,  then,  the  Songs  of  the  War  are  so  pleasing  to  those 
who  were  not  participants  in  the  great  struggle  which  pro 
duced  them,  how  much  dearer  must  they  be  to  the  boys 
who  sung  them  in  the  camp,  when  first  mustered  in,  on  the 
march,  or  at  home,  "  when  this  cruel  war  is  over,"  at  camp- 
fire  or  reunion.  And  how  busily  memory  will  work  when 
one  thinks  of  the  first  time  he  had  heard  this  or  that  air, 
now  so  common.  It  has  been  told,  and  I  believe  never 
contradicted,  that  the  very  first  song  of  the  war,  usually 
supposed  on  account  of  its  name  to  be  of  southern  origin, 
was  composed  and  written  by  Dan  Emmett,  the  celebrated 
minstrel  performer,  in  the  winter  of  1860.  He  had  just  re 
turned  from  a  year  or  two  of  sojourn  in  the  South  with  his 
troupe,  and  on  coming  out  of  his  theatre  one  night  in  New 
York,  the  contrast  between  the  two  atmospheres  of  the 
sunny  South  and  the  bleak  east  wind  of  the  Atlantic  was  so 
sharp  that  involuntarily  he  burst  out  with  a  shrug  of  the 
shoulder,  "  Ugh  !  I  wish  I  was  in  Dixie."  "  Hey,  Dan," 
said  one  of  his  companions,  "  why  not  write  a  song  and 
dance  on  it?"  and  it  was  clone;  and  like  wildfire,  it  spread 
over  both  North  and  South,  seemingly  as  a  precursor  of  the 
great  struggle  which  was  to  begin  the  following  spring. 

The  South  claimed  it,  but  the    North  would   not  give  it 


208       SEVENTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE   REGIMENT. 

up  ;  and  from  that  day  to  this,  on  account  of  its  popularity, 
on  both  sides  it  can  be  truthfully  said  that  no  air  is  more 
taking  than  ''Dixie's  Land." 

A  distinguished  Union  officer,  who  was  in  Washington 
on  court-martial  duty  during  the  closing  days  of  the  re 
bellion,  told  me  ten  years  ago,  in  New  York,  during  the 
Centennial  of  the  Inauguration  of  Washington,  while  we 
were  viewing  the  great  military  parade  and  listening  to 
Dixie  as  rendered  by  the  renowned  Gilmore's  band,  that 
after  the  fall  of  Petersburg,  and  during  the  period  between 
that  event  and  the  surrender  of  Lee's  army,  crowds  of 
people  were  constantly  around  the  White  House  to  hear  the 
news  and  to  see  the  president.  On  the  night  after  the  an 
nouncement  of  the  victory  at  Five  Forks  and  the  expected 
capture  of  the  rebel  forces,  after  the  president  had  made  his 
usually  happy  speech,  some  one  in  the  crowd  called  to 
have  the  band  play  Dixie.  At  this  there  were  loud  cries 
of  dissent,  but  all  were  hushed  when  the  tall  form  of  the 
president  was  seen  in  the  portico,  with  outstretched  arms. 
"  Fellow  citizens,"  said  he,  "Dixie  is  ours;  we  have  cap 
tured  it,  and  no  power  on  earth  can  take  it  from  us."  A 
roar  like  Niagara  from  the  crowd,  and  Dixie's  Land  from 
the  Marine  band  was  the  response  to  the  president's  happy 
retort,  and  the  ownership  of  Dixie  was  forever  set  at  rest. 

At  Yorktown,  during  the  centennial  of  1882,  I  was  there 
as  the  guest  of  the  battalion  of  National  Guard  from  our 
state.  The  first  clay  on  shore,  at  our  quarters,  while  the 
battalion  were  out  on  the  field  for  exercise,  I  looked  around 
to  see  who  were  our  neighbors,  and  found  that  South  Caro 
lina  was  located  on  our  right.  Now  I  was  interested  in 
that  state,  being  one  of  the  first  to  land  at  Hilton  Head 
after  the  fall  of  Port  Royal  in  1861.  So  I  stepped  across 
the  "  chasm,"  and  found  a  pleasant  faced  man  in  uniform, 
rank  of  first  lieutenant, — the  regimental  commissary, — super 
intending  the  preparations  for  dinner,  and  very  busy,  as  the 


THE   MUSIC  AND   SONGS  OF   THE    WAR.  209 

delegation  was  expected  every  minute.  When  he  told  me 
that  he  was  from  the  old  Palmetto  state  I  unbosomed  rny- 
self,  and  told  him  that  I  was  also  a  citizen  of  the  good  old 
commonwealth  for  awhile ;  and  when  I  told  him  in  what 
capacity,  and  the  color  of  my  uniform, — why  he  could  not 
have  been  more  pleased  had  the  governor  of  North  Carolina 
made  his  long-expected  call.  In  the  twinkling  of  an  eye 
he  initiated  me  into  the  delightful  ceremony  which  is  sup 
posed  to  take  place  when  the  governors  of  the  old  North 
and  South  states  meet.  Now,  this  was  all  done  with  a 
knowledge  of  the  fact  that  I  was  one  of  those — though  in 
a  humble  capacity — in  Sherman's  expedition  and  Dupont's 
fleet,  that  sent  him  on  the  home-stretch  for  "  Blufton  on  de 
main,  sah,"  more  than  twenty-one  years  before.  Now  the 
thought  occurred  to  me  that  it  would  be  a  proper  thing  to 
get  our  regimental  band  together— Blaisdell's  Third  Regi 
ment  of  Concord— and  receive  the  South  Carolinians  in  style. 
The  boys  were  only  too  glad  to  do  it,  and  they  were  got 
together  barely  in  time,  for  the  head  of  the  column,  led  by 
Governor  Haygood,  accompanied  by  his  staff  and  followed 
by  a  full  regiment  in  rebel  gray,  made  its  appearance,  tired, 
dry,  and  dusty  in  consequence  of  its  long  march  from  the 
railroad  station.  The  band  struck  up  a  rousing  quickstep, 
and  a  more  surprised  crowd  was  rarely  seen.  Exclamations 
and  introductions  followed,  and  again  and  again  the  delightful 
ceremony  peculiar  to  the  governors  of  North  and  South 
Carolina  was  celebrated  by  the  long-separated  brethren. 

After  awhile  I  was  approached  by  the  adjutant  of  the 
South  Carolina  Regiment,  who  said,  "  My  dear  sir,  I  would 
like  to  ask  you  a  favor,  but  am  afraid  you  will  be  offended." 
"Pooh,  you  cannot  ask  anything  offensive,"  said  I.  "  What 
is  it?"  "You  have  a  splendid  band,  better  than  we  are 
accustomed  to  hear ;  would  it  be  too  much  to  ask  you  to 
play  Dixie?  It  would  make  our  boys  wild."  I  laughed. 
"Why,"  said  I,  "  do  you  claim  that?  It  is  as  much  ours  as 
14 


210       SEVEN  TEE  NTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE  REGIMENT. 

yours.  Of  course  we  will  play  it."  I  went  to  Prof.  Blais- 
dell,  and  fortunately  he  had  a  medley  of  army  airs.  It  took 
but  little  time  to  get  ready,  and  when  the  band  struck  up 
the  well  known  song,  the  Palmetto  boys  were  wild,  and  the 
rebel  yell,  ear-piercing  and  shrill,  filled  the  air.  "  Yankee 
Doodle"  and  the  "  Star  Spangled  Banner"  closed  the  im 
promptu  serenade,  both  of  which  were  cheered  as  loudly 
as  "  Dixie."  By  this  time  our  boys  got  in  from  drill,  and 
led  by  the  gallant  Col.  Copp,  their  commander,  who  spent 
three  years  on  South  Carolina  soil,  exchanged  courtesies 
and  decorations.  No  doubt  the  Palmetto  badge  which  was 
turned  over  at  that  time  is  cherished  by  many  of  our  New 
Hampshire  boys  as  a  memento  of  the  trip.  The  event  itself 
is  another  illustration  of  the  power  of  music  and  song;  for 
the  self-same  adjutant,  in  the  fulness  of  his  heart,  said,  "Lin- 
ehan,  it  is  no  use  talking ;  you  were  right  and  we  were 
wrong,  and  I  am  d — d  glad  the  Union  was  saved." 

But  of  all  the  songs  that  carry  us  back  to  the  stirring 
days  of  1861,  is  that  one  above  all  others,  to  whose  music 
marched  the  best  blood  of  our  nation,  before  bounties  or 
substitutes  were  thought  of, — that  glorious  anthem,  whose 
origin  is  a  mystery,  for  its  composition  has  never  been  sat 
isfactorily  explained.  At  once  a  source  of  inspiration  to  the 
Union  volunteers  and  a  tribute  to  the  man  for  whom  it  was 
named, — who  laid  down  his  life  freely  for  the  lowliest  and 
most  despised  in  the  land, — was  it  any  wonder,  then,  that  the 
gifted  New  England  poetess,  on  hearing  it  sung  around  the 
countless  camp-fires  of  McClellan's  army,  entrenched  along 
the  Potomac  in  the  winter  of  1861,  should  burst  out, — 

«  Mine  eyes  have  seen  the  glory  of  the  coming  of  the  Lord, 
He  is  pressing  out  the  vintage  which  the  grapes  of  wrath  have  stored.1' 

For  as  long  as  the  last  veteran  lives  who  was  among  those 
that  wintered  in  Washington  in  the  fall  and  winter  of  1 86 1, 
so  long  will  be  remembered  the  strains  of 


THE  MUSIC  AND  SONGS  OF  THE    WAR.  211 

"  John  Brown's  body  lies  mouldering  in  his  grave, 
But  his  soul  is  marching  on." 

The  effect  of  this  song,  when  heard  in  camp  or  on  the 
march,  was  simply  indescribable,  and  often,  when  tired  and 
lank,  both  weariness  and  hunger  disappeared,  for  the  time 
being,  when  some  bold  spirit  struck  up  the  refrain.  Of 
another  character  altogether  was  a  song  written  by  the  late 
P.  S.  Gilmore,  the  great  jubilee  projector,  and,  during  the 
war,  bandmaster  of  the  24th  Massachusetts.  He  adapted 
the  words  to  a  rollicking  old  Irish  air.  The  boys,  however, 
added  several  verses,  a  little  "  off  color"  from  a  prohibition 
standpoint,  and  used  to  sing  them  with  a  vigor  that  would 
please  the  author  of  the  original. 

"  For  we  '11  all  drink  stone  blind, 
When  Johnnie  comes  marching  home.11 

It  was  very  appropriate  in  its  day,  however,  and  popular 
both  at  home  and  at  the  front.  It  was  wonderful,  in  this  con 
nection,  to  see  how  soon  our  boys  "  caught  on  "  to  the  new 
songs,  though  they  never  forgot  the  old  ones,  and  often  sang 
them  with  as  much  zeal  as  when  at  singing-school,  or  taking 
part  in  the  exercises  in  the  "  old  meeting-house  on  the  green." 

It  is  said  that  on  the  retreat  before  Richmond,  in  June, 
1862,  when  our  army  was  driven  back,  every  day,  leaving 
behind  their  dead  and  wounded,  that  one  night,  just  before 
the  Battle  of  Malvern  Hill,  a  rebel  picket  said  to  his  com 
rade,  "  It 's  no  use,  Jim,  we  can  never  lick  them  Yanks." 
"What  makes  you  think  so?"  said  the  other.  "What 
makes  me  think  so?  Don't  you  hear  that?  We  have 
driven  them  fellows  every  day  for  a  week,  capturing  their 
camps,  their  blankets,  and  their  grub,  and  I  '11  be  hanged  if 
there  they  ain't  singing  now,  as  if  they  were  going  to  a  wed 
ding.  It's  no  use,  Jim,  they  don't  know  when  they  are 
licked  !  "  And  it  was  no  wonder  that  "Johnny  Reb"  had 
that  impression,  for  it  was  a  very  dull  crowd  around  camp- 
fire  or  at  mess  that  the  old  songs  of  home  were  not  heard, 


212       SE  VEN'l  'EENTH  NE  W  HA MPSHIRE   RE GIMENT. 

"  Saw  my  leg  off  short,"  adapted  to  the  well  known  air  of 
"Greenville;"  "  Old  Grimes  is  dead,  that  good  old  man," 
"There  were  three  crows  sat  on  a  tree,"  etc.,  and  when 
were  added  the  later  songs  of  the  period,  "  Rally  round  the 
flag,"  "  Tenting  on  the  old  camp-ground,"  "  Tramp,  tramp, 
tramp,  the  boys  are  marching,"  "Who  will  care  for  mother 
now,"  "The  Vacant  Chair,"  "Kingdom  Coming,"  "Old 
Shady,"  etc.,  interspersed  with  the  glorious  "  Star  Spangled 
Banner"  and  "My  country;  'tis  of  thee,"  it  is  not  surpris 
ing  that  the  spirits  of  the  Union  soldiers  were  buoyant ;  for 
with  such  music  and  such  songs,  men  never  knew  when  they 
were  beaten,  and  were  therefore  unconquerable.  It  is  a 
pleasure  to  note  that  the  sweetest,  the  most  pathetic,  and 
the  one  of  all  that  awakes  memories  of  the  past,  is  "  Tent 
ing  on  the  old  camp-ground,"  the  composition,  words  and 
music,  of  Walter  S.  Kittredge,  a  son  of  New  Hampshire. 
When  the  grand  achievement  of  Sherman  electrified  the 
nation  by  his  march  from  Atlanta  to  the  sea,  a  new  song, 
which  is  destined  to  live,  the  words  and  music  of  which  har 
monize  admirably  with  the  theme,  and  which  the  people 
never  tire  of  hearing,  was  added  to  the  long  list,  already 
produced  by  the  stirring  events  of  the  period,  and  proving 
the  truth  of  the  Scriptural  saying,  that  the  last  shall  be 
better  than  the  first,  for  of  all  the  songs  of  the  war,  none 
will  create  more  enthusiasm  than 

"  Marching  through  Georgia."* 

It  can  then  safely  be  said  that,  long  after  the  last  survivor 
of  the  Rebellion  has  been  mustered  out,  that  the  music  and 
songs  of  the  war  that  saved  the  Union  and  freed  the  slave, 
will  be  played  and  sung  by  millions  who  will  enjoy  the 
blessings  to  be  found  only  under  a  government  like  ours, 
and  may  it  be  their  lot  then,  as  it  is  ours  now,  to  sing  in 
the  midst  of  peace  and  prosperity,  the  world's  song  of 
"  Home,  sweet  home."1 


CHAPTER   XXXVIII. 

REGIMENTAL  HISTORIES  AND  THEIR   RELATION  TO  THE 

ANNALS  OF  THE  STATE, 

BY  ALBERT  STILLMAN  BATCHELLOR. 

The  little  group  of  settlements  begun  in  1622,  later  tak 
ing  the  names  of  Portsmouth,  Dover,  Hampton,  and  Exeter, 
and  eventually,  with  their  subdivisions  and  extensions 
towards  the  interior,  forming  the  municipal  constituents  of 
the  frontier  province  of  New  Hampshire,  were  early  made 
familiar  with  all  the  essentials  of  war  and  educated  to  a 
mastery  of  its.  dire  necessities.  The  supremacy  of  France 
in  the  north  and  the  interposition  of  many  tribes  of  savages 
between  the  English  colonies  and  those  of  their  rivals  in  the 
new  civilization  of  North  America,  were  constant  menaces 
to  our  pioneer  ancestors.  At  six  distinct  periods  an  actual 
state  of  war  was  recognized,  and  its  existence  met  by  levies 
of  men  and  material  which  severely  tried  the  resources  of 
the  colonists  at  all  times,  and  often  to  the  limit  of  their 
ability.  The  stockade  was  as  much  the  evidence  and  con 
comitant  of  the  progress  of  this  people  in  the  reduction  of 
the  wilderness  as  was  the  meeting-house.  The  narratives 
of  the  adventurous  and  hereditary  heroism  of  the  men  and 
women  of  the  early  periods  of  the  extension  of  New  Hamp 
shire  from  the  little  fringe  of  hamlets  on  the  sea  shore,  and 
its  islands  and  inlets,  to  the  borders  established  at  the  close 
of  the  war  in  1760,  fill  our  literature  of  history  with  an 
inspiration  which  has  nerved  the  succeeding  generations  to 
heroic  deeds. 

No  more  striking  and  instructive  exemplars  of  the  litera- 


214      SE  VENTEENTH  NE  W  HAMPSHIRE  RE GIMENT. 

turc  of  adventure  and  daring  are  afforded,  even  in  these 
days  of  profusion  in  book  production,  than  those  chapters 
of  New  Hampshire  history  which  recount  the  Waldron 
tragedy  at  Dover,  the  bloody  adventure  of  Hannah  Dus- 
ton,  the  battles  of  Lovewell  with  the  Pequaquets,  the  Kil- 
burn  defense  of  the  block-house  at  Walpole,  the  strategy  of 
Joseph  Whipple  at  Jefferson,  the  fight  at  Baker's  river,  the 
captivity  of  Stark,  the  destruction  of  the  Indian  town  of  St. 
Francis,  and  scores  of  others  equally  trying  to  human  forti 
tude.  Indeed  these  narratives  of  the  brave  and  adventurous 
people  who  were  the  state  makers  of  New  Hampshire  are 
almost  innumerable, — 

"  Wherein  I  spake  of  most  disastrous  chances, 
Of  moving  accidents  by  flood  and  field  ; 
Of  hair  breadth  'scapes  i'  the  imminent  deadly  breach  ; 
Of  being  taken  by  the  insolent  foe, 
And  sold  to  slavery  ;  of  my  redemption  thence." 

The  first  general  Indian  war  which  the  New  Hampshire 
settlers  encountered  was  known  as  King  Phillip's  war.  It 
continued  with  some  intermissions  during  three  years,  1675- 
'78,  in  the  period  of  the  first  union  of  the  New  Hampshire 
towns  with  Massachusetts  Bay  colony.  Mr.  Belknap's 
chapter  5,  History  of  New  Hampshire,  Farmer's  edition,  is 
devoted  to  a  narrative  of  events  connected  with  these  hos 
tilities.*  The  next  was  known  as  King  William's  war. 
The  French  to  the  northward  in  Canada  cooperated  with  the 
Indians  and  carried  on  a  conflict  after  the  Indian  fashion,  from 
1688  to  1698,  a  period  of  ten  years.  This  was  a  most  disas 
trous  decade  for  the  people  of  the  frontier  towns.  A  narrative 
of  the  war  is  given  by  Mr.  Belknap  in  his  chapter  10.  Cot- 

*History  of  the  Indian  Wars  in  New  England  by  Rev.  William  Hubbard,  edited  by 
Samuel  A.  Drake,  1865;  the  old  Indian  chronicle  being  a  collection  of  exceeding  rare 
tracts,  written  and  published  in  the  time  of  King  Phillip's  war,  by  persons  residing  in 
the  county;  notes  by  S.  G.  Drake,  1867;  Soldiers  of  King  Phillip's  War,  by  G.  W.  W. 
Bodge,  1896. 


REGIMENTAL   HISTORIES  AND    THE   STATE. 


215 


ton  Mather's  account  is  found  in  his  Remarkablcs  of  the 
Eastern  War.  A  short  period  of  comparative  peace  fol 
lowed.  In  1703,  war  with  the  French  and  Indians  was 
again  on,  with  a  repetition  of  the  alarm,  material  loss,  suf 
fering,  and  destruction 
with  which  the  people 
had  already  become 
familiar.  This,  the  third 
general  conflict  with  the 
savages,  was,  like  the 
second,  waged  on  the 
part  of  the  French  and 
Indians  as  allies.  It  is 
known  as  Queen  Anne's 
war.  It  terminated  in 
1713,  soon  after  the 
treaty  of  Utrecht  con 
cluded  between  the 
French  and  English  gov 
ernments.  Its  ten  years' 
duration  suggested  a 
similarity  with  King  Wil 
liam's  war  in  this  particu 
lar,  and  Mr.  Mather's  Decennium  Luctuosum  was  descrip 
tive  of  both.  Chapter  12  of  Mr.  Belknap's  history  is  de 
voted  to  this  war. 

The  interim  of  peace  at  this  time  was  about  ten  years. 
In  1722,  the  province  was  again  at  war  with  the  Indians. 
This  was  termed  Lovewell's  war,  and  continued  three 
years.  This  famous  ranger  led  three  several  expeditions 
against  the  Indians,  sacrificing  his  own  life  in  the  last. 
These  have  always  been  considered  as  among  the  most 
famous  in  the  annals  of  Indian  warfare.  The  earlier  New 
England  historians,  Hubbard  and  others  as  well  as  Mather, 
gave  valuable  accounts  of  such  of  these  wars  as  were  sub 


ALBERT  S.  BATCHELLUK. 


2l6      SEVENTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE  REGIMENT. 

jects  of  record  in  their  time.  Queen  Anne's  war  and  Love- 
well's  were  described  by  Samuel  Penhallow,  a  prominent 
citizen  of  this  province,  and  at  one  time  its  chief  justice. 
His  work  is  the  first  military  history  of  any  considerable 
pretension  written  by  a  New  Hampshire  author.  It  is  a 
very  rare  work.  A  reprint  may  be  found  in  Vol.  i,  Col 
lections  of  the  New  Hampshire  Historical  Society,  pp.  9- 
135,  and  it  was  also  republished  at  Cincinnati  in  1859  in  a 
separate  volume  edited  by  Harpel.  Lovewell's  war  is 
treated  in  chapter  14  of  Belknap.  "An  Indian  war,"  says 
Belknap,  "  was  a  necessary  appendage  to  a  war  with 
France."  In  1744,  after  the  unusually  long  period  of 
nearly  twenty  years  of  tranquility,  France  having  become 
involved  in  the  war  between  England  and  Spain,  New 
Hampshire,  with  the  other  colonies,  was  drawn  into  the 
conflict  and  took  an  active  part  in  it.  This  war,  with  its 
accompaniments  of  ravages  of  the  frontier,  and  expedi 
tions  to  the  northward  by  sea  and  land,  including  the 
reduction  of  Louisburg,  continued  five  years,  1744— '49. 
Samuel  Moore  commanded  a  New  Hampshire  regiment, 
and  ships  and  sailors  were  also  equipped  by  this  province. 
The  account  of  it  given  by  Mr.  Belknap  occupies  his  chap 
ters  19  and  20.  New  Hampshire  supplied  men  and 
means  for  the  Louisburg  campaign  with  great  liberality 
and  success.  Col.  George  C.  Gilmore,  commissioner  for 
the  state,  has  contributed  a  valuable  addition  to  the  litera 
ture  of  this  expedition  in  the  Roll  of  New  Hampshire  Men 
at  Louisburg,  Cape  Breton,  1745,  published  by  the  state 
in  1896. 

Only  five  years  intervened  between  this  and  the  last 
French  and  Indian  war.  The  peace  of  Aix-la-Chapelle 
took  place  in  1748,  and  hostilities  closed  in  the  ensuing 
year,  but  were  renewed  in  1754.  The  "  Seven  Years  War," 
so  called,  occupies  a  prominent  niche  in  New  Hampshire 
history.  This  province  bore  a  conspicuous  part  in  the 


.REGIMENTAL   HISTORIES  AND    THE  STATE.         217 

struggle  which  resulted  in  finally  wresting  the  northern 
dependencies  from  the  French.  Robert  Rogers,  the 
ranger,  with  his  corps,  which  was  largely  drawn  from  New 
Hampshire,  has  also  held  high  place  in  the  stories  of 
daring  deeds  which  distinguished  that  long  contest.  This 
was  the  military  academy  from  which  graduated  Washing 
ton,  Stark,  and  a  multitude  of  other  leaders  and  soldiers  of 
the  Revolution.  Chandler  E.  Potter,  in  his  Military  His 
tory  of  New  Hampshire,  Adjutant  General's  Report,  1866, 
Vol.  2,  and  continued  in  the  same  for  1868,  gives  much 
space  to  the  narrative  of  operation  and  the  rolls  of  New 
Hampshire  men  engaged  in  it.  Mr.  Belknap  also  summa 
rizes  the  events  of  the  war  in  chapter  22  of  his  work. 
Regiments  and  large  parts  of  regiments  were  successively 
forwarded  to  the  seat  of.  war  from  New  Hampshire,  under 
Col.  Joseph  Blanchard,  Col.  Peter  Oilman,  Col.  Nathaniel 
Meserve,  Col.  John  Goffe,  Major  Thomas  Tash,  Col.  John 
Hoit,  Col.  Zacheus  Lovewell,  and  Major  Robert  Rogers, 
with  whom  John  and  William  Stark  served  as  captains.  In 
the  one  hundred  years  preceding  the  War  of  the  Revolu 
tion  this  province  had  borne  a  responsible  and  honorable 
share  as  frontier  territory,  and  as  an  active  participant  in 
the  six  wars  of  the  colonists  and  the  mother  country 
against  the  French  and  Indians,  aggregating  a  period  of 
thirty-eight  years.  As  early  as  1690  these  colonies,  with 
a  considerable  contribution  of  New  Hampshire  soldiers, 
sailors,  and  ships,  carried  the  war  to  the  front  of  Fronte- 
nac's  stronghold  on  the  St.  Lawrence,  and  in  the  later 
wars  twice  assisted  in  the  reduction  of  the  fortress  of 
Louisburg. 

In  the  next,  the  century  of  independence,  again  every 
generation  had  its  war — the  Revolution,  1775— '82;  the 
second  war  with  England,  i8i2-'i5  ;  the  war  with  Mexico, 
i846-'48;  the  Civil  War  of  1861-65  ;*  and  now,  in  1898, 

*For  the  account  of  New  Hampshire's  participation  in  the  War  of  i8i2-'i5,  and  that 
with  Mexico,  see  Potter's  History  in  Adjutant  General's  Report  for  1868. 


2l8      SEVENTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE   REGIMENT, 

the  war  with  Spain.  And  meantime  no  permanent  peace 
was  maintained  with  the  Indians  of  the  western  wilder 
ness  until  within  our  own  time,  in  which  extermination, 
reconcentration,  and  civilization  have  closed  the  bloody 
record  of  the  encroachments  of  the  whites  upon  the  Indian 
domain,  and  Indian  resistance  and  retaliation.  New  Hamp 
shire  has  had  place  hardly  300  years  in  the  geogra 
phy  of  the  world's  progress,  yet  in  that  epoch  her  litera 
ture,  largely  historical,  has  become  abundant.  This  is 
specially  evident  in  the  domain  of  her  military  annals. 
These  are  rich  in  material,  both  manuscripts  and  prints, 
for  the  student  of  this  historical  specialty.  Individuals  and 
organizations  are  producing  from  various  sources,  both 
local  and  remote,  monographs,  and  more  pretentious  trea 
tises  that  are  of  conspicuous  merit.* 

To  those  who  are  making  studies  in  provincial  records, 
biography  of  leaders,  and  the  history  of  organizations  or 
commands  in  the  Revolutionary  period,  the  lesson  of  duty 
which  the  civilians  and  veterans  of  this  generation  owe  to 
posterity  in  the  preservation  of  the  military  history  of  our 
own  time  is  brought  home.  The  difficulty  of  identifying 
names  in  the  rolls  of  the  organizations  serving  in  the 
Revolution,  with  places  of  residence,  family  connection, 
and  of  particular  lines  of  service,  is  often  insurmountable. 
The  accounts  of  campaigns  of  particular  companies,  de 
tachments,  and  regiments  are  incomplete,  indefinite,  and 
confusing.  The  men  who  marched  with  the  colors  from 
Concord  and  Lexington  to  Yorktown,  deserved  better  things 
of  history  and  of  the  state.  Dr.  Belknap,  in  his  work, 
which  is  still  the  unsurpassed  narrative  of  New  Hampshire 

*The  indefatigable  efforts  of  Col.  Gilmore  of  Manchester  in  tracing  individual 
rec-irds  of  soldiers  of  New  Hampshire  in  the  Revolution  are  specially  valuable  in  prac 
tical  results.  Besides  the  accumulation  of  a  great  many  manuscript  notes,  he  has  pro 
duced  restored  rolls  of  New  Hampshire  men  at  Bunker  Hill  and  at  Bennington  which 
have  been  published.  Report  of  special  commissioner  [George  C.  Gi  more]  on  the 
Bunker  Hill  memorial  tablets,  1891.  Roll  of  New  Hampshire  Soldiers  at  the  Battle 
of  Bennington,  Aug.  16,  1777.  Compiled  by  George  C.  Gilmore,  1891. 


REGIMENTAL   HISTORIES  AND    THE   STATE.          219 

annals  from  1622  to  1790,  devotes  but  one  chapter  to  the 
War  of  the  Revolution  with  which  he  was  contemporaneous. 
His  work,  however,  was  published  with  financial  aid  from 
the  general  court,  and  thus  the  fathers  gave  practical  con 
struction  in  this  behalf  to  the  powers  of  the  constitution 
which  they  had  then  but  recently  promulgated.  They 
enunciated  in  that  instrument  the  true  principle  for  the 
guidance  of  those  who  should  follow  them  and  realize  the 
prophetic  and  practical  quality  of  their  wisdom.  Our  state 
constitution,  article  82,  is  in  part  as  follows:  — 

"  Knowledge  and  learning  generally  diffused  through  a  community 
being  essential  to  the  preservation  of  a  free  government,  and  spreading 
the  opportunities  and  advantages  of  education  through  the  various  parts 
of  the  country  being  highly  conducive  to  promote  this  end,  it  shall  be 
the  duty  of  the  legislators  and  the  magistrates  in  all  future  periods  of 
this  government  to  cherish  the  interest  of  literature  and  the  sciences." 

It  remained  for  a  patriotic  public  sentiment  developed 
since  our  own  Civil  War  to  bring  out  a  state  military  history 
in  the  work  of  Col.  Potter,  and  to  make  the  Revolutionary 
rolls  accessible  to  all  interested  students  in  the  four  volumes 
of  State  Papers,  14,  15,  16,  and  17,  which  were  so  faithfully 
edited  by  Isaac  W.  Hammond.  The  widespread  revival  of 
interest  in  historical  research  which  is  now  stimulating  in 
dividual  and  associated  effort,  both  in  new  and  old  fields, 
has  fortunately  concentrated  much  attention  upon  the  col 
onial  and  Revolutionary  period.  The  New  Hampshire 
Historical  Society  is  now  making  the  Revolution  a  special 
subject  of  biographical  investigation.  The  societies  of  Sons 
of  the  American  Revolution,  Sons  of  the  Revolution, 
Daughters  of  the  American  Revolution,  and  several  local 
societies  are  industrious  co-workers  to  a  common  purpose. 
The  Society  of  Colonial  Wars  and  the  Society  of  Colonial 
Dames  are  necessarily  more  interested  in  an  earlier  but 
equally  important  period.  They  will  subserve  a  most  benef 
icent  mission  if  they  shall  be  able  to  make  their  publica- 


220      SEVENTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE   REGIMENT. 

tions  abundant  in  authentic  and  systematic  monographs  and 
treatises  in  the  history  of  New  Hampshire  in  the  colonial 
wars,  New  Hampshire's  colonial  regiments  and  ranging 
companies,  New  Hampshire  in  the  colonial  navy,  New 
Hampshire's  colonial  governors,  and  her  military  leaders 
before  the  Revolution. 

This  new  departure  in  historical  research  and  production 
was  inaugurated  by  Hon.  Ezra  S.  Stearns,  one  of  the  most 
accomplished  students  and  writers  of  New  Hampshire  his 
tory,  in  his  monograph  on  Meshech  Weare,  published  in  a 
handsome  pamphlet,  and  in  the  Proceedings  of  the  New 
Hampshire  Society  of  Sons  of  the  American  Revolution.* 
More  than  two  score  of  topics  in  the  same  field  are  now 
prepared  or  assigned  for  the  society.  Local  Historical  so 
cieties,  also,  like  that  at  Manchester  and  that  at  Dover,  are 
most  effective  auxiliaries  in  this  work  of  investigation,  com 
pilation,  and  publication. | 

The  earlier  historians  accorded  scant  mention  of  men  and 
events  in  the  northern  part  of  the  state  in  the  Revolutionary 
period.  This  omission  has  been  partially  rectified  in  recent 
years  by. northern  investigation,  and  by  those  who  have  in 
terested  themselves  in  topics  connected  with  the  early  Revo 
lutionary  history  of  the  ancient  Grafton  and  Coos  region. 
Among  them  are  Samuel  C.  Bartlett  in  his  addresses  on 
New  Hampshire  in  the  Revolution,  on  Gen.  Stark,  and  on 
Lieut. -Col.  John  Wheelock  ;  Henry  O.  Kent  in  his  historical 
addresses  before  the  societies  of  the  Colonial  Wars  and  the 
Sons  of  the  American  Revolution  ;  Joseph  B.  Walker  on 
Robert  Rogers ;  Edgar  Aldrich  on  Col.  Timothy  Bedel ; 
Chester  B.  Jordan  on  Joseph  Whipple  and  Richard  C. 

•  *Id.  Proceedings  of  the  New  Hampshire  Society  of  Sons  of  the  American  Revolu 
tion,  1889,  1897,  p.  62. 

tGov.  William  Plumer  was  a  contemporary  with  the  men  of  the  Revolutionary 
period  and  those  of  the  later  province  period.  His  biographies  which  are  numerous  and 
critical  are  contained  in  several  MSS.  volumes  in  the  custody  of  the  N.  H.  Historical 
Society  at  Concord.  An  index  to  these  five  MSS.  volumes  is  printed  in  I.  Proceed 
ing  N.  H.  Hist.  Soc.,  435-457. 


REGIMENTAL   HISTORIES  AND    THE   STATE.         221 

Everett;  Jeremiah  E.  Rankin  on  Capt.  Jeremiah  Eames ; 
William  H.  Cotton  on  Lieut.  Col.  Elisha  Payne;  Charles  R. 
Corning  on  Samuel  Livermore,  Robert  Rogers,  and  Col. 
John  Fenton ;  William  F.  Whitcher  on  Col.  John  Kurd  ; 
Rev.  J.  Q.  Bittinger  on  Col.  Charles  Johnston;  Roswell 
Farnham  on  Gen.  Israel  Morey;  Alfred  Russell  on  Col. 
David  Webster;  Henry  A.  Hazen  on  Col.  Moses  Hazen ; 
John  L.  Rice  on  Dartmouth  College  and  the  State  of  New 
Connecticut;  Frederick  Chase  on  The  College  and  the  War 
of  the  Revolution ;  Albert  S.  Batchellor  on  the  History  of 
the  Northern  Regiment  of  New  Hampshire  Revolutionary 
Militia;  chapters  of  town  history  published  and  unpublished 
in  Lancaster,  Littleton,  Haverhill,  Hanover,  Conway,  Can 
aan,  Lebanon,  Orford,  Plymouth  and  Bristol;  Child's  Gaz- 
eteer  of  Grafton  County  and  Fergusson's  Histories  of  Coos 
County  and  of  Carroll  County. 

There  is,  it  may  be  noted  in  passing,  but  one  distinct 
ively  New  Hampshire  regimental  history  which  relates  to 
the  period  prior  to  the  Civil  War.  This  is  a  History  of  the 
First  New  Hampshire  Regiment  in  the  War  of  the  Revolu 
tion,  by  Frederic  Kidder,  published  in  Albany,  N.  Y.,  in 
1868. 

The  Records  of  the  New  Hampshire  branch  of  the 
Cincinnati  was  first  published  in  the  New  Hampshire  His 
torical  Society  Collections  pp.  278-307.  It  was  reproduced 
in  22  State  Papers  pp.  759-820.  The  historical  notes  of 
John  C.  French  on  this  subject  arc  timely  and  valuable  and 
have  stimulated  a  wholesome  interest  in  these  documents 
and  the  historical  and  biographical  data  which  they  dis 
close.  15  Granite  Monthly,  123. 

The  history  of  the  part  borne  by  the  state,  the  munici 
palities,  and  the  military  organizations  and  individuals  of 
New  Hampshire  in  the  great  struggle  between  the  states  is 
comprehensive,  detailed  and  critical.  In  no  other  common--- 
wealth  has  it  taken  substantial  and  permanent  literary  form, 


222      SE  VENTEENTH  NE  W  HAMPSHIRE    REGIMENT. 

on   more  progressive  theories  and  with   more   satisfactory 
results.* 

Immediately  upon  the  conclusion  of  the  war  the  rolls  of 
those  engaged  for  the  state  in  the  military  service  were 
published,  but  with  inadequate  preparation  and  correction. 
These  constitute  vols.  i  and  2  of  the  Adjutant-General's 
Report  for  1865,  and  vol.  I  of  the  report  for  1866.  The 
contributions  to  the  history  of  these  various  organizations 
are  of  unequal  degrees  of  completeness  and  may  be  classi 
fied  as  the  first,  second,  third,  fourth,  and  fifth  series.  The 
first  series  of  these  articles  runs  through  both  volumes  of 
the  Adjutant-General's  Report  for  1865.  That  official,  in 
his  general  remarks,  says  this  of  the  nine  monographs 
which  he  was  able  to  present : 

"  I  here  subjoin  the  record  of  the  New  Hampshire  volunteer  organiz 
ations  in  their  numerical  order.  I  would  add  that,  although  the  histor 
ical  report  of  nine  of  the  regiments  is  most  meager  and  of  a  most  unsat 
isfactory  nature,  still  it  is  the  best  that  I  have  been  able  to  obtain  in  a 
space  of  eight  months.  It  is  my  wish,  should  I  continue  in  office 
another  year,  to  submit  to  your  successor  a  historical  report  of  the 
operations  of  each  New  Hampshire  organization  every  way  more  com 
plete  and  satisfactory." — Adjutant-General's  Report.  \  865,  Vol.  i ,  p.  56. 

The  second  series,  consisting  of  papers  more  carefully 
and  elaborately  written,  is  given  under  sanction  of  the  adju 
tant-general  in  his  report  for  1866,  vol.  2.  This  excellent 
contribution  to  the  military  history  of  the  state  was  made 

*The  State  publications,  general  histories,  and  regimental  memorials  are  by  no  means 
tha  only  accessible  repositories  of  New  Hampshire's  record  in  the  Civil  War.  Each  of  the 
series  of  histories  of  the  ten  counties  has  valuable  chapters  on  this  subject.  Scores  of 
town  histories  published  since  the  war  devote  adequate  space  to  the  relations  of  town  to 
persons  and  events  in  this  conflict,  and  as  to  the  war  history  of  several  towns  special 
volumes  have  appeared,  of  which  those  of  Claremont  and  Pittsfield  are  examples.  Pro 
ceedings  of  the  state  encampment,  the  G.  A.  R.  and  of  the  auxiliary  association  of  the 
Woman's  Relief  Corps,  are  sources  of  personal  data  of  interest  and  importance.  The 
historical  contributions  to  the  proceedings  of  the  Massachusetts  Commandery  of  the 
Loyal  Legion  not  infrequently  give  space  to  New  Hampshire  men  and  their  services. 
The  published  proceedings  at  the  dedication  of  soldiers'  monuments  and  military 
memorial  halls  in  towns  and  cities  are  in  the  same  category. 


REGIMENTAL   HISTORIES  AND    THE   STATE. 

by  Hon.  George  A.  Harden,  a  veteran  of  the  sharp 
shooters,  who  took  special  charge  of  the  collection  of 
material  and  literary  prosecution  of  the  work  in  the  office 
of  the  adjutant-general.  (Report,  1866,  vol.  i,  p.  7). 
The  introductory  notes  mention  those  from  whom  the 
editor  received  contributions  or  special  aid  in  his  under 
taking.  "  Volumes,"  he  adds,  "  would  be  required  to  do 
justice  to  the  historic  deeds  of  the  brave  sons  of  New 
Hampshire ;  but  it  is  surely  worth  while  to  preserve  even 
these  brief  accounts  of  their  toils  and  sacrifices,  their  weary 
marches  and  hard  fought  battles.  Scarce  a  fight  has 
occurred  in  all  the  war  whose  story  New  Hampshire  cannot 
claim  as  a  part  of  her  military  record.  Scarce  a  battlefield 
exists  which  has  not  been  reddened  by  New  Hampshire 
blood.  And  the  noble  deeds  of  the  men  of  the  Granite  State 
are  not  excelled  by  those  of  any  other  state  in  the  Union." 

The  third  series  consists  of  the  chapters  directed  to  the 
records  of  the  several  organizations  in  Major  Waite's  his 
tory.  This  work  was  prepared  within  a  few  years  after  the 
close  of  the  war.  It  is  briefly  described  by  title  as  New 
Hampshire  in  the  Great  Rebellion,  Containing  Histories 
of  the  Several  New  Hampshire  Regiments  and  Biographi 
cal  Notices  of  Many  of  the  Prominent  Actors  in  the  Civil 
War  of  i86i-'65,  by  Major  Otis  F.  R.  Waite,  Claremont, 
1870.  The  material  contained  in  series  one  and  two  is 
^argely  utilized  in  this  volume. 

The  fourth  series  includes  the  sketches  (in  most  in 
stances  condensed  from  the  more  elaborate  works  of  the 
authorized  historians  themselves)  published  in  connection 
with  the  rolls  of  the  several  organizations  in  Gen.  Ayling's 
Revised  Register. 

The  fifth  series  is  the  one  which  includes  the  final  vol 
umes  which  are  now  being  published  by  the  veteran  asso 
ciations  with  state  cooperation  under  the  provisions  of  the 
regimental  history  acts. 


224      SEVENTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE   REGIMENT. 

Descriptions  of  the  separate  chapters  or  volumes  of  the 
several  series,  with  a  number  of  citations  to  articles  or  vol 
umes  not  classified,  are  given  under  the  names  of  the  organ 
izations  to  which  they  relate. 

The  survivors  of  the  regiments,  battalions,  batteries,  and 
separate  companies  themselves  were  the  first  to  recognize 
the  inadequacy  of  the  historical  sketches  which  appeared 
not  only  in  the  state  publications  from  the  adjutant-gen 
eral's  office  but  in  the  periodicals,  and  incidentally  in  local 
and  general  histories  which  touched  war  subjects.  They 
appreciated  the  utility  of  the  service  rendered  in  these  pre 
liminary  essays,  but  at  the  same  time  they  found  in  them 
the  suggestion  and  impulse  of  a  necessity  for  more  com 
plete  and  comprehensive  undertakings  in  the  same  direc 
tion  at  their  own  hands  and  under  their  own  auspices.  The 
veteran  organizations,  one  after  another,  voted  effective 
measures  to  this  end,  and  selected  historians  or  designated 
committees  for  the  purpose  of  accomplishing  a  more  ex 
tended  and  a  more  adequate  presentation  of  their  several 
histories.  Martin  A.  Haynes  of  the  Second  regiment  was 
the  pioneer  in  this  state  in  what  is  now  understood  as  the 
special  domain  of  regimental  history.  His  work,  which 
will  be  bibliographically  described  hereafter,  was  published 
in  1865,  and  in  a  few  years  became  a  high  priced  rarity 
with  collectors.  The  Fourteenth  regiment,  the  last  of  those 
raised  for  three  years'  service,  was  the  first  to  bring  out  its 
contribution  to  what  is  now  regarded  as  the  regimental  his 
tory  series.  This  was  in  1882.  In  many  respects  that 
history  is  a  model.  Its  tables  of  information  in  the  ap 
pendix  are  unsurpassed  in  system  and  accuracy.  The 
narrative  is  graphic  and  discriminating,  and  the  presenta 
tion  of  facts  interesting  and  reliable.  It  is  also  specially 
noteworthy  in  its  attractive  typography  and  its  satisfactory 
arrangement  of  the  subject  matter. 

The    character    and  contents  of    these  several    histories 


REGIMENTAL   HISTORIES  AND    THE   STATE.          22$ 

invite  a  more  extended  analysis  and  description  than  the 
limits  of  this  chapter  permit.  It  must  suffice  to  remark 
that  the  student  of  New  Hampshire  military  history  will 
find  in  their  pages  an  abundance  of  facts  arranged  in  most 
attractive  narrative.  It  is  the  familiar  story  of  march, 
bivouac,  and  battle,  but  it  recounts  what  belongs  to  our 
own  brethren,  to  our  own  time,  and  to  our  own  community 
and  commonwealth. 

The  effect  of  such  a  publication  as  that  brought  out 
by  the  Fourteenth  upon  the  veterans  of  other  regi 
ments  was  to  stimulate  a  healthful  and  productive  spirit  of 
emulation.  It  was  an  object  lesson  to  the  legislature,  and 
an  unaswerable  proof  of  the  high  quality  of  the  historical 
work  of  which  the  veterans  had  proven  themselves  capa 
ble  as  memorials  of  their  service.  Legislation  resulted 
under  which  it  has  become  practicable  for  every  organiza 
tion  to  produce  its  own  history,  prepared  by  its  own 
chosen  historian,  and  issued  without  the  necessity  of 
serious  pecuniary  hazard.  The  first  of  the  series  of  acts 
by  which  the  regimental  histories  have  been  aided  and 
encouraged  was  introduced  in  the  house  by  Representa 
tive  Sulloway  of  Manchester  in  1887.* 

The  act  of  1887  is  entitled  "Joint  Resolution  in  Relation 
to  the  Purchase  of  the  Histories  of  Military  Organizations 
of  the  State  in  the  Late  War."  The  latest  legislation  on 
the  same  subject  is  the  act  of  1895,  entitled,  "An  Act 
in  Amendment  of  Chapter  14  of  the  Laws  of  1891,  Rela 
ting  to  Free  Public  Libraries." 

The  list  which  follows  includes  several  publications 
which  may  not  be  accounted  as  properly  classified  with  the 
regimental  history  series.  The  Dartmouth  Cavaliers  were 

*The  bill  in  the  form  first  proposed  encountered  so  much  opposition  that  there  was 
scant  prospect  of  its  success.  By  agreement  of  the  parties  most  directly  interested,  a 
new  bill  was  drawn  to  meet  the  reasonable  suggestions  of  the  friends  and  opponents  of 
the  original  measure.  The  result  was  the  act  of  1887.  Each  of  the  more  recent  sup 
plements  to  the  initial  legislation  was  drawn  by  the  same  hand. 
15 


226      SEVENTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE  REGIMENT. 

a  body  of  cavalry  accepted  by  Governor  Sprague  as  Rhode 
Island  volunteers,  in  which  the  greater  part  were  students 
of  Dartmouth  college  in  1862.*  There  were  three  com 
panies  of  sharpshooters  which  were  under  command  of 
Colonel  Berdan,  one  in  the  First  Regiment  and  two  in  the 
Second.  The  history  of  this  organization  is  in  its  general 
aspects  the  history  of  the  New  Hampshire  contingent. 
Narratives  of  service  and  rolls  of  membership  in  more  com 
pact  form  have  been  published  as  contributions  to  the  his 
tory  of  the  New  Hampshire  battery  and  the  Fourth  Regi 
ment.  These  volumes  must  be  regarded  as  parts  of  the 
regimental  history  series,  at  least  until  more  elaborate 
works  from  the  respective  veteran  associations  which  these 
works  represent,  are  produced  with  state  cooperation.  The 
descriptive  list  here  given  follows  the  order  of  time  of  the 
first  mustering  in  of  the  members  of  each  organization. 
The  history  of  regiments  and  other  organized  bodies  of 
New  Hampshire  men  are  often  touched  upon  and  some 
times  treated  at  length  in  published  biographies  of  officers 
and  others  who  had  part  in  the  service.  Beginning  with 
newspapers  and  periodicals  of  the  war  time,  and  the  Adju 
tant-General's  Report  for  1865,  vol.  2,  and  continuing  to 
the  valuable  series  presented  incidentally  with  special 
department  of  biography  as  published  by  the  Grafton  and 
Coos  Bar  Association, f  these  may  be  traced  in  many  direc 
tions,  and  with  profit  to  the  student.  Their  mention  here 
even  by  titles  would  be  impracticable. 

In  the  list  of  titles  which  follows,  and  which  is  an  attempt 
to  formulate  a  convenient  catalogue  of  the  productions 
which  narrate  the  history  of  New  Hampshire  organizations 

*The  colleges  represented  were  Dartmouth  35,  Norwich  University  23,  Bowdoin  4, 
Union  4,  Williams  i,  Amherst  i,  other  members  17. 

fAmong  the  notable  citizen  soldiers  whose  biographies  appear  in  the  proceedings  of 
this  association  are  Gen.  Nelson  Cross,  Gen.  Harris  M.  Plaisted,  Gen.  Gilman  Mars- 
ton,  Gen.  John  L.  Thompson,  Gen.  John  Hough,  Col.  Thomas  J.  Whipple,  and  Major 
Evarts  W.  Farr. 


REGIMENTAL   HISTORIES  AND    THE   STATE.          227 

in  the  Civil  War,  a  classification  in  the  manner  already 
indicated  in  respect  to  the  period  of  publication  and  the 
origin  of  articles  or  volumes  will  be  readily  noted.  This  is 
intended  only  as  an  outline  of  what  has  been  done  in  this 
special  department  of  historical  research  and  of  what 
remains  to  be  accomplished.* 

*A  recent  historical  essay  by  Henry  L.  Dawes,  "  New  England  Influence  in  National 
Legislation,"  constituting  chapters  5,  6,  7,  8,  and  9  of  vol.  i,  Kurd's  New  England 
States,  1897,  and  the  article  by  William  F.  Whitcher  entitled  "  The  Relation  of  New 
Hampshire  Men  to  the  Events  which  Culminated  in  the  War  of  the  Rebellion,"  consti 
tuting  chapter  2  of  Abbott's  History  of  the  First  Regiment,  suggest  a  reference,  at 
least,  to  a  class  of  literature  which,  as  a  subject  of  description,  is  beyond  the  scope  of 
this  paper.  In  the  war  period  sons  of  New  Hampshire  moved  in  important  spheres  of 
national  influence.  Only  a  few  of  the  names  on  that  remarkable  list  need  be  recalled  to 
give  point  to  this  observation.  In  the  United  States  Senate,  Henry  Wilson,  native  of 
Farmington,  was  chairman  of  the  committee  on  military  affairs  ;  John  P.  Hale,  native 
of  Rochester,  chairman  of  the  committee  on  naval  affairs  ;  William  Pitt  Fessenden, 
native  of  Boscawen,  chairman  of  the  committee  on  finance  and  appropriations ;  James 
W.  Grimes,  native  of  Deering,  chairman  ot  the  committee  on  the  District  of  Columbia  ; 
Zachariah  Chandler,  native  of  Bradford,  chairman  of  the  committee  on  commerce  ;  and 
Daniel  Clark,  native  of  Stratham,  chairman  of  the  committee  on  claims.  Salmon  P. 
Chase,  native  of  Cornish,  was  secretary  of  the  treasury  and  author  of  the  financial 
legislation  which  produced  the  sinews  of  war.  Horace  Greeley,  native  of  Amherst,  was 
the  greatest  intellectual  force  in  the  journalism  of  that  time.  Charles  A.  Dana,  native 
of  Hinsdale,  was  assistant  secretary  of  war,  and  known  as  the  "  eyes  of  the  war  depart 
ment."  John  A.  Dix,  native  of  Boscawen,  Benjamin  F.  Butler,  native  of  Deerfield, 
John  G.  Foster,  native  of  Whitefield,  one  of  the  defenders  of  Sumter,  and  Fitz-John 
Porter,  native  of  Portsmouth,  whose  historic  fight  for  the  vindication  of  his  good 
name  and  soldierly  reputation,  as  admirable  in  its  courage  and  persistency  as  it  was 
successful  in  the  result,  were  major-generals.  Walter  Kittredge,  native  of  Merrimack, 
wrote  "  Tenting  on  the  Old  Camp  Ground."  Charles  Carleton  Coffin,  native  of  Bos. 
cawen,the  war  correspondent,  wrote  the  histories  of  the  war  which  are  most  read  by 
the  youth  of  the  land. 

The  lives  of  these  men,  written  and  unwritten,  constitute  a  part  of  the  history  of  the 
period  of  strong  agitation,  Civil  War,  and  reconstruction  so  important  and  extensive 
that  it  is  appreciated  only  by  those  who  have  made  the  most  profound  study  of  the 
events  which  they  influenced.  Several  of  them  were  distinguished  contributors  of. 
elaborate  works  devoted  to  the  history  of  their  time.  A  valuable  summary  of  the 
biographies  of  New  Hampshire  men,  including  those  above  mentioned,  and  based  upon 
Appleton's  Encyclopedia  of  Biography,  is  given  in  the  New  Hampshire  Manual  for 
the  General  Court,  1895,  PP-  *-$&• 


228    SEVENTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE  REGIMENT. 

FIRST   REGIMENT. 

1.  History  of  the  First  Regiment  New  Hampshire  Vol 
unteer  Infantry,   by   Ira  McL.   Barton,   Adjutant-General's 
Report,  1865,  Vol.  i,  pp.  33-54- 

2.  Historical  sketch,   condensed   from    foregoing,   Adju 
tant-General's  Report,  1866,  Vol.  2,  pp.  413-420. 

3.  Historical  sketch,   New   Hampshire  in  the  Great  Re 
bellion,  1870,  pp.  57-86. 

4.  Historical   sketch  by  Stephen  G[ano]   Abbott,  regi 
mental    historian,    Revised    Register    of    New    Hampshire 
Soldiers  and  Sailors  in  the  War  of  the  Rebellion,  by  A.  D. 
Ayling,  Adjutant-General,  1895,  pp.  1-2. 

5.  The    First   Regiment  New    Hampshire   Volunteers  in 
the   Great   Rebellion :    Containing   the   Story  of  the   Cam 
paign  ;    an  Account  of  the  "  Great  Uprising  of  the   People 
of  the  State,"  and  Other  Articles  upon  Subjects  Associated 
with  the    Farly   War   Period;     Map   of   the    Route    of   the 
Regiment;    Tables;     Biographies;     Portraits   and    Illustra 
tions;    by  Rev.  Stephen   G[ano]   Abbott,  A.  M.,   Chaplain 
of  the  Regiment;    Keene,  1890;    8mo.,  cloth,  pp.  511. 

Miscellan  eous . 

(a)  Sketches  of  Mason  W.  Tappan,  Granite  Monthly, 
Vol.  10,  p.  375  ;  History  of  Merrimack  and  Belknap 
Counties,  1885,  pp.  22-26;  Bench  and  Bar  of  New  Hamp 
shire,  by  Charles  H.  Bell,  1894,  p.  679;  Twenty  Years  of 
Congress,  by  James  G.  Blaine,  1884,  Vol.  i,  pp.  261-268. 

State  Service,    Three  Months,   1861. 

Historical  sketch  and  individual  records  of  service,  by 
Harry  Pearl  Hammond,  Register  of  New  Hampshire  Sol 
diers  and  Sailors,  1895,  PP-  H93-1221- 

New  Hampshire  in  the  Great  Rebellion,  1870,  pp.  49~56. 


REGIMENTAL  HISTORIES  AND  THE  STATE,       22$ 

SECOND   REGIMENT, 

1.  Historical  sketch  by  J.  D.  Cooper,  Adjutant-General's 
Report,  1865,  Vol.  I,  pp.  149-155. 

2.  Historical  sketch  condensed   from  regimental  history, 
by  Martin  A.   Haynes,  with  additional  data  furnished   by 
Joab  N.  Patterson,  John  W.  Adams,  and  Richard  W.  Rob 
inson,   Adjutant-General's  Report,    1866,  Vol.  2,  pp.  421  — 
472. 

3.  Historical  sketch,  New  Hampshire  in  the   Great  Re 
bellion,  1870,  pp.  103-168. 

4.  Historical   sketch   by  Martin   A.   Haynes,   regimental 
historian,    Revised    Register   of    New    Hampshire    Soldiers 
and  Sailors,  1895,  pp    25-27. 

5.  (i)   History  of  the  Second  Regiment  New  Hampshire 
Volunteers :    Its  Camps,   Marches,   and   Battles,  by   Martin 
A.   Haynes,  Private   of    Company   I ;    Manchester,    N.    H., 
1865  ;   I2mo.,  pp.  223. 

(2)  A  History  of  the  Second  Regiment,  New  Hamp 
shire  Volunteer  Infantry  in  the  War  of  the  Rebellion ;  by 
Martin  A[lonzo]  Haynes,  Company  I;  Lakeport,  N.  H., 
1896;  8mo.,  cloth,  pp.  XV,  350,  125. 

Miscellaneous. 

(a)  Tributes  to  the  Memory  of  Gen.  Gilman  Marston, 
Proceedings  of  the  Grafton  and  Coos  Bar  Association, 
Vol.  2,  pp.  135-158. 

Biographical  sketch,  Granite  Monthly,  Vol.  11,  pp.  341- 

347- 

Oration  of  Hon.  Charles  H.  Bartlett,  on  Gen.  Gilman 
Marston  before  the  Posts  of  the  G.  A.  R.  at  Manchester, 
N.  H.,  Memorial  Day,  May  30,  1891  ;  Manchester,  N.  H., 
1891  ;  8mo.,  pamphlet,  pp.  22. 

Reminiscences  of  Gen.  Gilman  Marston,  by  William  H. 
Paine,  Granite  Monthly,  Vol.  14,  pp.  331-335. 


230      SEVENTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE   REGIMENT. 

(b)  Sketches    of    Joab    N.   Patterson,    New    Hampshire 
Men,  1893,  p.  94;    Life  and  Times  in   Hopkinton,  p.  444, 
Register  of  the   Mass.  Commandery  of  the   Loyal   Legion, 
1891,  p.  187. 

(c)  Sketch  of  Edward   L.   Bailey,  Waite's   New  Hamp 
shire  in  the  Great  Rebellion,  1870,  p.  123. 

THIRD    REGIMENT. 

[Known  as  the  Third  New  Hampshire  Mounted  Infantry  in  March  and 
April,  1864.] 

1.  Historical    material    in   reports    of   John   H.  Jackson, 
Robert    Williams,    J.    I.    Plympton,   Henry    S.    Dow,    and 
James     F.     Randlett,     Adjutant-General's     Report,     1865, 
Vol.    I,    pp.    240-257. 

2.  Historical    compilation    from    material    furnished    by 
John   Bedel,   R.  W.  Woodbury,   C.  A.  White,  Marquis  L. 
Hobbs,   E.  J.  Copp,   and  John   M.  Haines,   Adjutant-Gen 
eral's  Report,  1866,  Vol.  2,  pp.  473-507. 

3.  Historical  sketch,  New  Hampshire   in  the   Great  Re 
bellion,  1870,  pp.  169-214. 

4.  Historical    sketch    by    Daniel    Eldredge,    regimental 
historian,    Revised    Register  of   New    Hampshire    Soldiers 
and  Sailors,  1895,  pp.  99-100. 

5.  The  Third    New    Hampshire    and  All    about    It,   by 
D[aniel]    Eldridge,   Captain  Third   New    Hampshire  Vol. 
Inf.;    Boston,  Mass.,  1893;    Smo.,  cloth,  pp.  XXXI,  1054. 

Miscella  neons. 

(a)  Gen.    John    Bedel,    by    Walter    Harriman,    Granite 
Monthly,  Vol.  3,  pp.  $13-51$. 

(b)  Historical     Sketch    of    the    Third    Regiment    New 
Hampshire     Volunteers,    by    Gen.     John     Bedel,     Granite 
Monthly,  Vol.  3,  pp.  516-534. 

(c)  Dedication  of  the   Monument  Erected   in   Memory 
of   Gen.   John   Bedel   by   His   Surviving   Comrades  of    the 


REGIMENTAL   HISTORIES  AND    THE   STATE.          231 

Third  Regiment,  New  Hampshire  Volunteers,  at  Bath, 
N.  H.,  October  10,  1888;  Concord,  N.  H.,  n.  d. ;  8mo., 
pamphlet,  pp.  33. 

(d)  The  Affair  of  the   Cedars  and  the  Services  of  Col. 
Timothy  Bedel   in  the  War  of  the   Revolution  (contains  an 
account   of   his  descendants,  Moody  and  John  Bedel)  by 
Edgar  Aldrich  ;    Proceedings  of  the  New  Hampshire  His 
torical  Society,  1897. 

(e)  War  Pictures,  by  John  C.  Linehan,  Granite  Monthly, 
Vol.  18,  p.  343  ;   Vol.  19,  pp.  83,  143,  208,  307,  356,  456. 

(f)  Sketch  of  John  H.  Jackson,  Waite's  New  Hampshire 
in  the  Great  Rebellion,  1870,  p.  181. 

SHARPSHOOTERS. 

1.  Historical  sketch  of  the  three  New  Hampshire  com 
panies  of  sharpshooters,  Adjutant-General's  Report,  1865, 
Vol.  2,  pp.  744-754. 

2.  Historical  sketch,  by  George  A.   Marden,  Adjutant- 
General's  Report,  1866,  Vol.  2,  pp.  933—951. 

3.  Historical  sketch,  New   Hampshire  in  the   Great  Re 
bellion,  1870,  pp.  567-574. 

4.  Historical  sketches,   by  Samuel   F.    Murray,  Revised 
Register    of   New   Hampshire   Soldiers   and   Sailors,    1895, 
pp.  964-966,  972-974. 

5.  Berdan's  United    States   Sharpshooters  in  the  Army 
of  the   Potomac,  1861-1865,  by  Capt.  C.  A.  Stevens  (His 
torian)  ;    St.  Paul,  Minn.,  1892;    8mo.,   cloth,   pp.  23,  555. 

Miscella  n  co  us . 

(a)  Sketch  of  George  A.  Marden,  One  of  a  Thousand, 
1890,  p.  395.  Register  Mass.  Commandery  of  the  Loyal 
Legion,  1891,  p.  164;  One  of  a  Thousand,  395;  Massa 
chusetts  of  To-day,  p.  32  ;  Hist.  Lowell,  435-6;  Rep.  Men 
of  Massachusetts,  78-80;  Nat.  Ency.  Biog.,  vol.  2,  284. 


232      SEVENTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE   REGIMENT. 

(b)  Edward  Thomas  Rowell.  Register  Mass.  Com- 
mandery  of  the  Loyal  Legion,  1891,  p.  215.  Courier- 
Citizen  Company,  Hist,  of  Lowell,  p.  448. 

FIRST   N.  E.  CAVALRY,  N.  H.  BATTALION. 

1.  No  historical  sketch  in  Adjutant-General's  Report  for 
1865. 

2.  Historical   sketch   of  the  original  battalion  in  history 
of  the   First  New  Hampshire  Cavalry,  by  John   L.  Thomp 
son   and  Walter  Perley,  Adjutant-General's  Report,   1866, 
Vol.  2,  pp.  875-909. 

3.  Historical  sketch,  New  Hampshire   in  the   Great  Re 
bellion,  1870,   pp.  544-548. 

4.  Historical  sketch,  by  Ezra  B.  Parker,  Revised   Regis 
ter  of  New  Hampshire  Soldiers  and  Sailors,  1895,  PP-  829- 

831. 

5.  No   separate   history  of  the  battalion  has  been  pub 
lished  under  the  provisions  of  the   regimental  history  acts. 

FOURTH    REGIMENT. 

1.  Historical    sketch,   mainly   extracts    from    official    re 
ports,    including    one    by    Louis    Bell,    Adjutant-General's 
Report,  1865,  Vol.  i,  pp.  340-344. 

2.  Historical  sketch  compiled   principally  from  material 
from   Francis  W.  Parker,  with   additions   by  Norman   Bur- 
dick,  from   sketch    of   Colonel   Carleton,   and    information 
by  Frederick  A.Kendall,  Adjutant-General's  Report,  1866, 
Vol.  2,  pp.  508-535. 

3.  Historical  sketch,  New  Hampshire   in  the  Great  Re 
bellion,  1870,  pp.  215-251. 

4.  Historical    sketch,    by    Francis    W.    Parker,    Revised 
Register  of   New  Hampshire    Soldiers   and   Sailors,    1895, 

PP.  153-155. 

5.  (i)    Roster  Fourth   Regiment  New  Hampshire  Vol- 


REGIMENTAL   HISTORIES  AND    THE   STATE.         233 

unteers,  Compiled  and  Published  by  Authority  of  the 
Fourth  Regiment  Veteran  Association,  by  John  G.  Hutch- 
inson,  First  Sergt.,  Co.  E,  Historian;  Manchester,  N.  H., 
1896;  i6mo.,  cloth,  pp.  1 88. 

(2)  Roster    of    Company    E,    Fourth    Regiment    New 
Hampshire   Volunteers ;     n.   p.    n.    d. ;     48mo.,    pamphlet, 
pp.  8. 

(3)  Historical  Sketch  and   Roll  of  Honor  of  the  Fourth 
Regiment  New  Hampshire  Volunteers,  Mustered   into   Ser 
vice  Sept.  1 8,  1 86 1  ;    Mustered   Out  Aug.  23,  1865  ;    Man 
chester,  N.  H.,  n.  d.  ;    241110.,  pamphlet,  pp.  15. 

No  separate  history  of  this  regiment  has  been  published 
under  the  provisions  of  the  regimental  history  act. 

Miscellaneous. 

(a)  Thomas   J.   Whipple,   Memorial   Address    by   Hon. 
E.    P.    Jewell   of   Laconia,  Proceedings  of  the   Grafton  and 
Coos   Bar  Association,  Vol.  2,  pp.  39-46,  and   Proceedings 
of  the  Southern  New  Hampshire  Bar  Association,  Vol.  I, 
pp.  175-180. 

Sketch  of  Thomas  J.  Whipple,  New  Hampshire  Men, 
1893,  p.  238. 

(b)  Memoir  of   Gen.  Louis    Bell,    Late   Colonel  of   the 
Fourth  New  Hampshire  Regiment,  Who  Fell  at  the  Assault 
on  Fort  Fisher,  N.  C.,  Jan.  16,  1865,  by  John  Bell  Bouton  ; 
New  York,  1865  ;    8mo.,  limp  cloth,  pp.  53. 

Sketches  of  Louis  Bell,  Adjutant-General's  Report,  1865, 
Vol.  2,  p.  794;  Appleton's  Encyclopedia  of  Biography, 
Vol.  I,  p.  227. 

FIRST   LIGHT  BATTERY. 

1.  Historical    sketch,   Adjutant-General's   Report,    1865, 
Vol.  2,  pp.  626-631. 

2.  Historical  sketch,  by  Frederick  M.  Edgell,  Adjutant- 
General's  Report,  1866,  Vol.  2,  pp.  910-927. 


SEVENTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE    REGIMENT. 

3.  Historical  sketch,  New   Hampshire   in  the   Great  Re 
bellion,  1870,  pp.  555-559. 

4.  Historical  sketch,  by  Samuel  S.  Piper,  Revised  Regis 
ter  of  New  Hampshire  Soldiers  and  Sailors,  1895,  PP-  892— 
895. 

5.  (i)    History    of    the    First   New    Hampshire    Battery 
during  the  War  of  the   Rebellion,   together  with    the  By- 
Laws  of  Platoon  A,  First  New  Hampshire   Light  Artillery, 
S.   M.;    Manchester,  N.   H.,    1878;    24mo.,   pamphlet,   pp. 

20. 

(2)  Names  and  Records  of  All  the  Members  Who  Served 
in  the   First  New  Hampshire    Battery  of  Light  Artillery, 
during  the  Late  Rebellion,  from  Sept.  26,  1861,  to  June  15, 
1865,  When  the   Battery  Was  Mustered  Out  of  the  Service 
of  the   United    States;     Manchester,   N.    H.,    1884;    Smo., 
pamphlet,  pp.  15. 

(3)  Names    and    Records    of    All    the    Members    Who 
Served    in    the    First    New    Hampshire    Battery    of    Light 
Artillery,  during  the   Late   Rebellion,  from  Sept.  26,  1861, 
to  June  15,  1865,  When  the  Battery  Was  Mustered   Out  of 
the   Service   of    the   United    States;     Manchester,    N.    H., 
1891  ;    8mo.,  pamphlet,  pp.  40. 

No  separate   history  of  this  battery  has  been  published 
under  the  provisions  of  the  regimental  history  acts. 

FIFTH  REGIMENT. 

1.  Historical  sketch,  first   year  of   service,  by  Edward  E. 
Cross,  with  additional  record  by  James  E.  Larkin,  Adjutant- 
General's  Report,  1865,  Vol.  I,  pp.  451-462. 

2.  Historical  sketch,  prepared   mainly  from  a  sketch  by 
Thomas  L.   Livermore,  with  data  from  a  sketch   by  E.  H. 
Marston,  Adjutant-General's  Report,  1866,  Vol.  2,  pp.  536- 

575- 

3.  Historical  sketch,  New  Hampshire  in  the  Great  Rebel 
lion,  1870,  pp.  252-296. 


REGIMENTAL   HISTORIES  AND    THE   STATE.         235 

4.  Historical  sketch,  by  William  Child,  regimental  histor 
ian,  Revised  Register  of  New  Hampshire  Soldiers  and  Sail 
ors,  1895,  PP-  209-21 1. 

5.  A   History   of    the    Fifth    Regiment   New  Hampshire 
Volunteers  in  the  American   Civil  War,  1861-1865,  in  two 
parts,  by  William  Child,  M.  D.,  major  and  surgeon,  Histor 
ian  of  the  Veterans'   Association  of  the  regiment;    Bristol, 
N.  H.,  1893  ;    8  mo.,  cloth,  pp.  XV,  336,  228. 

Miscellaneous. 

(a)  A  manuscript  journal  by  Col.  Edward   E.  Cross  is  a 
valuable  repository  of  the  early  history  of  this  regiment,  and 
is  in  the  custody  of  Mrs.  Persis  E.    Chase,  a   sister  of  Col. 
Cross. 

(b)  Sketches   of   Edward    E.   Cross,   Adjutant-General's 
Report,  1865,  p.  799;    Appleton's  Encyclopedia  of  Biogra 
phy,  Vol.  2,  p.  19. 

(c)  Sketches     of     Charles     E.     Hapgood,     History     of 
Amherst,  by  Daniel  F.  Secomb,  1883,  p.  889.    Register  of 
Commandery,  Loyal  Legion,  1891,  p.  120. 

SIXTH   REGIMENT. 

1.  Historical   sketch,   Adjutant-General's   Report,    1865, 
Vol.  i,  pp.  556-560. 

2.  Historical  sketch  by  Simon  G.  Griffin,  Adjutant-Gen 
eral's  Report,  1866,  Vol.  2,  pp.  576-606. 

3.  Historical  sketch,  New  Hampshire  in  the  Great  Rebel 
lion,  1870,  pp.  297-337. 

4.  Historical  sketch  by  Lyman  Jackman,  regimental  his 
torian,  Revised    Register  of  New   Hampshire  Soldiers   and 
Sailors,  1895,  PP-  283-286. 

5.  History  of  the  Sixth  New  Hampshire  Regiment  in  the 
War  for  the   Union ;    Captain  Lyman   Jackman,   historian, 
Amos  Hadley,  Ph.  D.,  editor;  Concord,  N.  H.,  1891  ;  8  mo., 
cloth,  pp.  VI,  630. 


236      SEVENTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE   REGIMENT. 

MisccHa  ncous. 

(a)  Sketches  of  Simon  G.  Griffin,  Successful  New  Hamp 
shire  Men,  1882,  p.  58;    Granite  Monthly,  Vol.  5,  pp.  101- 
108  ;    New  Hampshire  Men,  1893,  p.  146  ;  Men  of  Progress, 
1898,  pp.  56-59. 

(b)  Sketch   of   Samuel    D.  Quarles,    History   of   Carroll 
County,  1889,  p.  638. 

(c)  Sketches   of  Nelson  Converse,  History   of   Marlbor- 
ough,  by  Charles  A.  Bemis,  1881,  p.   45  i  ;  Hurd's  History 
of  Cheshire  and  Sullivan  Counties,  1886,  p.  276. 

(d)  Sketch   of    Phin.  P.  Bixby,  Waite's    History  of  New 
Hampshire  in  the  Great  Rebellion,  1870,  p.  311. 

SEVENTH  REGIMENT. 

1.  Historical  sketch,  by  Joseph   C.  Abbott,  accompanied 
by   official  reports  by  Joseph   C.  Abbott,  Thomas  A.   Hen 
derson,   Augustus  W.    Rollins,  and   John   Green   (  John  H. 
Horsfall),  Adjutant-General's  Report,  1865,  Vol.  I,  pp.  639- 
658. 

2.  Historical  sketch,  compiled    principally   from  a  paper 
by  Joseph  C.  Abbott,  published  in  the  Manchester  Mirror, 
including  an  account  of   the  assault   upon  Fort  Wagner,  by 
Henry   G.  Webber,  information   supplied  by   N.   M.  Ames, 
and  data  from  diaries  of    Charles   A.    Lawrence,   Adjutant- 
General's  Report,  1866,  Vol.  2,  pp.  607-626. 

3.  Historical  sketch,  New  Hampshire  in  the  Great  Rebel 
lion,  1870,  pp.  338-364. 

4.  Historical  sketch   by   Henry   F.  W.  Little,  regimental 
historian,  Revised  Register  of  New  Hampshire  Soldiers  and 
Sailors,  1895,  PP-  35°~354- 

5.  The  Seventh  Regiment  New  Hampshire  Volunteers  in 
the  War  of  the  Rebellion,  by  Henry  F[ranklin]  \V[allace] 
Little,  lieutenant  Seventh  New  Hampshire  Volunteers,  regi 
mental  historian;    Concord,   N.    H.,    1898;     8    mo.,   cloth, 
pp.  XVIII,  567,  no,  XXI. 


REGIMENTAL   HISTORIES  AND    THE   STATE.         237 

Miscellaneous. 

(a)  The    N.    H.     Seventh     at     Fort    Wagner,     Granite 
Monthly,  Vol.  2,  p.  208. 

(b)  Sketches   of   Haldimand    S.  Putnam,  Adjutant-Gen 
eral's  Report,  1865,  Vol.    2,  p.  815;     Appleton's   Encyclo 
pedia  of  Biography,  Vol.  5,  p.  139. 

(c)  Sketch  of   Joseph    C.  Abbott,  Appleton's    Encyclo 
pedia  of  Biography,  Vol.  I,  p.  7. 

EIGHTH  REGIMENT. 

[Known  as  the  First  New  Hampshire  Cavalry  from  Dec.  16,  1863,  to  Feb. 
29,  1864,  and  as  the  Second  New  Hampshire  Cavalry  from  March  i  to  July 
25,  1864.] 

1.  Historical  sketch,    by  James   H.   Marshall,  Adjutant- 
General's  Report,  1865,  Vol.  I,  pp.  737-747. 

2.  Historical   sketch,    including  a  history  of  the  Veteran 
Battalion,    by    James    H.    Marshall,    and    excerps    from    a 
scrap-book    of   letters  and  other  papers  of   Dana  W.  King, 
Adjutant-General's  Report,  1866,  Vol.  2,  pp.  627-670. 

3.  Historical    sketch,     New     Hampshire     in     the    Great 
Rebellion,  1870,  pp.  365-395. 

4.  Historical    sketch,    by   John   M.   Stanyan,   regimental 
historian,  Revised  Register  of  New  Hampshire  Soldiers  and 
Sailors,  1895,  pp.  403-407. 

5.  (i).   A    history    of    the    Eighth    Regiment     of     New 
Hampshire    Volunteers,  including   its   Service   as   Infantry, 
Second   N.  H.  Cavalry,  and   Veteran  Battalion  in  the   Civil 
War  of  1861-1865,  Covering  a  Period  of  Three  Years,  Ten 
Months,  and  Nineteen  Days  ;  by  John  M  [inot]  Stanyan,  late 
captain   of    Company   B;    Concord,    N.    H.,   1892;    8    mo., 
cloth,  pp.  583. 

(2)  Complete  Roster  of  the  Eighth  Regiment  New 
Hampshire  Volunteers;  n.  p.,  n.  d. ;  8  mo.,  cloth,  pp. 
1 06. 


238      SEVENTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE   REGIMENT. 

Miscellaneous. 

(a)  Sketch  of  Hawkes  Fearing,  Hingham,  Mass.,  in  the 
Civil  War,  p.  284.  Ancient  and  Honorable  Artillery  Co., 
Vol.  3,  p.  272  ;  Hingham  in  the  Civil  War,  284-286;  Hig- 
ginson,  Massachusetts  in  the  Army  and  Navy,  Vol.  2,  pp. 
212,  462. 

NINTH  REGIMENT. 

1.  Historical   sketch,   by  Rev.   J.  H.   Gilmore,  Adjutant- 
General's  Report,  1865,  Vol.  2,  pp.  76-78. 

2.  Historical   sketch,  compiled   from  data  by   George  H. 
Chandler,  Oscar  D.  Robinson,  and   Frank  J.  Burnham,  the 
account   of   the    battle    of   Spottsylvania   being  written    by 
Capt.  Robinson,    Adjutant-General's   Report,    1866,  Vol.  2, 
pp.  671-700. 

3.  Historical  sketch,  New  Hampshire  in  the  Great  Rebel 
lion,  1870,  pp.  396-420. 

4.  Historical   sketch,   by    George    L.  Wakefield,  Revised 
Register  of  New  Hampshire  Soldiers  and  Sailors,  1895,  pp. 
457-460. 

5.  History    of     the     Ninth    Regiment    New    Hampshire 
Volunteers  in  the  War  of  the  Rebellion  ;    edited  by  Edward 
O[livcr]     Lord,    A. 'M.;    Concord,    N.    H.,    1895;    8    mo., 
cloth,  pp.  XII,  761,  171. 

Miscella  ncous. 

(a)  An  unattached  company  stationed  at  Portsmouth,  in 
Fort   Constitution,  Capt.    Davidson,  became   a   part  of  the 
regiment  in  1862.      See  sketch   of  the  company  in  Revised 
Register  of  New  Hampshire  Soldiers  and  Sailors,  1895,  pp. 
986-988. 

(b)  Sketches  of  Col.  Enoch  Q.  Fellows,  Granite  Monthly, 
Vol.  8,  pp.  315-318;    History  of  Carroll  County,  1889,  pp. 
723-726. 


REGIMENTAL   HISTORIES  AND    THE   STATE.         239 

(c)  Sketches  of  Herbert  B.  Titus,  Child's  Cheshire 
County  Gazetteer,  1885,  p.  118;  History  of  Chesterfield, 
by  Oran  E.  Randall,  1882,  p.  471. 

TENTH  REGIMENT. 

1.  No  historical  sketch  of  this  regiment  is  given  in  Adju 
tant-General's  Report,  1865. 

2.  Historical  sketch,  condensed   from   an  elaborate  his 
tory  by  James  A.  Sanborn,  with   additions  by  Michael  T. 
Donahue,    Adjutant-General's   Report,    1866,    Vol.    2,    pp. 
701-730. 

3.  Historical   sketch,  New  Hampshire   in  the   Great  Re 
bellion,  1870,  pp.  421-443. 

4.  Historical  sketch,  by  James  Albert  Sanborn,  Revised 
Register   of   New   Hampshire   Soldiers   and    Sailors,    1895, 
pp.  513-516. 

5.  No   separate   history  of  this   regiment  has  been  pub 
lished   under  the  provisions  of  the  regimental  history  acts. 

Mis  cell  an  eo  us . 

(a)  Sketch  of  Michael  T.  Donahue,  One  of  a  Thousand, 
1890,  p.  181.  Register  of  Mass.  Commandery,  p.  82, 
Loyal  Legion,  1891;  Higginson,  Massachusetts  in  the 
Army  and  Navy,  Vol.  2,  pp.  177,  521.  Boston  Journal, 
May  27,  1895. 

ELEVENTH  REGIMENT. 

1.  Historical  sketch,  Adjutant-General's    Report,    1865, 
Vol.  2,  pp.  201-203. 

2.  Historical  sketch,   condensed    from    paper   published 
in  the  Manchester  Mirror,  with  additions  by  Walter  Harri- 
man  and  Leander  W.  Cogswell,  and  from  the  diary  of  W.  C. 
Wood,  Adjutant-  General's  Report,  1866,  Vol.  2,  pp.  731- 
762. 


240      SEVENTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE   REGIMENT. 

3.  Historical  sketch,  New  Hampshire   in  the   Great  Re 
bellion,  1870,  pp.  444-461. 

4.  Historical    sketch,    by    Leander    W.    Cogswell,    regi 
mental  historian,  Revised   Register  of  New  Hampshire  Sol 
diers  and  Sailors,  1895,  PP-  555-5S6- 

5.  A  History  of  the  Eleventh  New  Hampshire  Regiment 
Volunteer  Infantry  in  the  Rebellion  War,  1861-1865,  Cov 
ering  its   Entire   Service,  with   Interesting  Scenes  of  Army 
Life,  and   Graphic   Details   of   Battles,    Skirmishes,   Sieges, 
Marches,  and    Hardships,  in  Which   Its   Officers  and   Men 
Participated;    by  Leander  W[inslow]   Cogswell,  Company 
D;   Concord,  N.  H.,  1891  ;    Smo.,  cloth,  pp.  XI,  784. 

Miscella  n  eo  us . 

(a)  Life  of  Walter  Harriman,  with   Selections  from   His 
Speeches    and  Writings,    by  Amos    Hadley,    Boston    and 
New  York,  1888;    Smo.,  cloth,  pp.  385. 

Resolution  of  the  New  Hampshire  House  of  Representa 
tives  relative  to  \Valter  Harriman,  Journal  of  the  Special 
Session,  1864,  pp.  143—151. 

Sketches  of  Walter  Harriman,  Granite  Monthly,  Vol.  3, 
pp.  1-5  ;  Successful  New  Hampshire  Men,  1882,  p.  74. 

(b)  Memorial  Addresses   on  the   Life  and  Character  of 
Evarts  W.  Farr,  published  by  order  of  Congress,  WTashing- 
ton,  D.  C.,  1 88 1  ;   4mo.,  cloth,  pp.  54. 

(c)  Letter  of  Charles  R.  Morrison,  People  ana  Patriot, 
March  24,  1892. 

TWELFTH  REGIMENT. 

1.  Historical  reports,  by  Thomas  E.  Barker  and   others, 
Adjutant-General's  Report,  1865,  Vol.  2,  pp.  263-270. 

2.  Historical  sketch,  compiled  from   a  paper  written   by 
Andrew  M.  Heath  and  read  at  a  regimental  reunion  July  4, 
1866,  Adjutant-General's  Report,  1866,  Vol.  2,   pp.   763- 


REGIMENTAL   HISTORIES  AND    THE   STATE. 


24I 


3.  Historical  sketch,  New  Hampshire   in  the    Great  Re 
bellion,  1870,  pp.  462-477. 

4.  Historical  Sketch,  by  Asa  W.  Bartlett,  regimental  his 
torian,  Revised   Register  of  New  Hampshire   Soldiers  and 
Sailors,  1895,  pp.  603-606. 

5.  History   of    the  Twelfth   Regiment   New    Hampshire 
Volunteers  in  the  War  of  the  Rebellion,  by  Captain  A.  \V. 
Bartlett,  Historian  Twelfth  Regiment  Association,  Concord, 
N.  H.,  1897;    41110,  cloth,  pp.  x,  752-87. 

Miscellaneous. 

Sketch  of  Joseph  H.  Potter,  Appleton's  Encyclopedia  of 
Biography,  Vol.  5,   p.  90. 

THIRTEENTH  REGIMENT. 

1.  Historical   sketch,   Adjutant-General's    Report,     1865, 
Vol.  2,  pp.  324-339. 

2.  Historical  sketch,  condensed  from  histories  written  by 
Aaron  F.  Stevens  and  George  A.  Bruce,  Adjutant-General's 
Report,  1866,  Vol.  2,  pp.  782-810. 

3.  Historical    sketch,    New     Hampshire     in     the    Great 
Rebellion,    1870,  pp.    478-495. 

4.  Historical  sketch,  by  S.  Millctt  Thompson,  regimental 
historian,  Revised  Register  of  New  Hampshire  Soldiers  and 
Sailors,  1895,  PP-  650-655. 

5.  Thirteenth   Regiment  of    New   Hampshire   Volunteer 
Infantry  in  the  War  of  the  Rebellion,    1861-1865,  a   Diary 
Covering  Three  Years  and  a  Day,  by  S.*  Millett  Thompson, 
lieutenant  Thirteenth   N.  H.  Volunteers;    Boston   and  New 
York,  1888;    8mo.,  cloth,  pp.  XI,  717. 

Miscella  neous. 

(a)    Sketch   of  Aaron  F.   Stevens,   History  of  Hillsbor- 
ough  County,  1885,  pp.  37~39- 

*This  letter  is  arbitrarily  used,  and  refers  to  no  name. 
16 


242      SEVENTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE   REGIMENT. 

(b)   Nicholay  and   Hay's  Abraham   Lincoln,  Vol.  10,  p. 
209. 

FOURTEENTH   REGIMENT. 

1.  Historical  sketch,  by   William   H.  Thayer,  Adjutant- 
General's  Report,  1865,  Vol.  2,  pp.  394-408. 

2.  Historical   sketch,  by  William    H.   Thayer,    Adjutant- 
General's  Report,  1866,  Vol.  2,  pp.  811-834. 

3.  Historical  sketch,  New  Hampshire  in  the  Great  Rebel 
lion,  1870,  pp.  496-515. 

4.  Historical    sketch,    by   Francis    H.    Buffum,    Revised 
Register  of  New  Hampshire  Soldiers  and  Sailors,  1895,  PP- 


5.  A  Memorial  of  the  Great  Rebellion  :  Being  a  History 
of  the  Fourteenth  Regiment  New  Hampshire  Volunteers, 
Covering  Its  Three  Years  of  Service,  with  Original  Sketches 
of  Army  Life,  1862-1865;  Issued  by  the  Committee  of 
Publication;  Boston,  1882;  8mo,  half  calf,  pp.  XII,  443. 

Miscellaneous. 

(a)  Sheridan's  Veterans.       A   Souvenir   of    Their  Two 
Campaigns  in  the  Shenandoah  Valley.     The  One,  of  Wrar, 
in  1864,  the   Other,  of   Peace,  in  1883.      Being  the  Record 
of  the   Excursion  to  the   Battlefields  of  the  Valley  of  Vir 
ginia,   September  15-24,    1883.      By  One  of  the  Veterans 
(Francis    H.    Buffum);    Boston,    Mass.,   December,    1883; 
8mo.,  stiff  paper,  pp.  128. 

(b)  Sketches   of    Carroll   U.    Wright,    New    Hampshire 
Men,  1  893,  p.  95;   Appleton's  Encyclopedia  of  Biography, 
Vol.  6,  p.  621  ;    One  of  a  Thousand,  1890,  p.  675. 

(c)  Sketch  of   Robert  Wilson,  New   Hampshire   in    the 
Great  Rebellion,  1870,  p.  502. 

(d)  Sketches  of  Alexander  Gardiner,  History  of  Clare- 
mont,  by  Otis   F.   R.  Waite,  1895,   P-  429  5    Adjutant-Gen 
eral's  Report,  1865,  Vol.  2,  p.  830. 


REGIMENTAL  HISTORIES  AND  THE  STATE.      243 

FIFTEENTH  REGIMENT. 

1.  Historical  sketch,  by  Edward   E.    Pinkham,  Adjutant- 
General's  Report,  1865,  Vol.  2,  pp.  447—464. 

2.  Historical  sketch,  by  Edward  E.  Pinkham,  Adjutant- 
General's  Report,  1866,  Vol.  2,  pp.  835-852. 

3.  Historical  sketch,  New  Hampshire  in  the  Great  Rebel 
lion,  1870,  pp.  516-527. 

4.  Historical  sketch,   by  Charles   McGregor,   regimental 
historian,  Revised  Register  of  New  Hampshire  Soldiers  and 
Sailors,  1895,  pp.  734~736. 

5.  No  separate  history  of  this  regiment  has  been  pub 
lished  under  the  provisions  of  the  regimental  history  acts. 

Miscellaneous. 

(a)  Sketches  of  Henry  W.  Blair,  Successful  New  Hamp 
shire   Men,    1882,    p.    285;    Granite   Monthly,  Vol.   6,    pp. 
I93-I98;     New   Hampshire   Men,   1893,    p.    67;     Men   of 
Progress,  1898,  p.  41. 

(b)  Sketch  of  John  W.   Kingman,   New   Hampshire   in 
the   Great  Rebellion,    1870,   p.    579;    biography   in    manu 
script  history  of  the   class   of    1843,   Harvard   College,    in 
custody  of    Thomas  B.    Hall,    75    State   St.,    Boston. 

SIXTEENTH  REGIMENT. 

1.  No  sketch  of  this  regiment  is   given  in  the  Adjutant- 
General's  Report,  1865. 

2.  Historical  sketch,  by  Thomas  A.  Gilmore,  with  addi 
tions  from   a   brief  history,  by  James   Pike,   Adjutant-Gen 
eral's  Report,  1866,  Vol.  2,  pp.  853-865. 

3.  Historical     sketch,    New    Hampshire     in     the     Great 
Rebellion,    1870,    pp.    528-534. 

4.  Historical    sketch,    by   Daniel    E.    Howard,    Revised 
Register  of    New   Hampshire   Soldiers   and    Sailors,    1895, 
pp.  762-765. 


244      SEVENTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE   REGIMENT. 

5.  History  of  the  Sixteenth  Regiment  New  Hampshire 
Volunteers,  by  Adjutant  Luther  Tracy  Townsend ;  Wash 
ington,  D.  C.,  1897;  8mo.,  cloth,  pp.  574. 

Miscella  n  cous . 

(a)  The  first  edition  of  Townsend's  history  of  this  regi 
ment  was  published  in  the  Granite  Monthly  for  1897. 

(b)  A  series  of  war-time  letters  fro  .11  this  regiment  over 
the   nom  de  flume  of  "  Mascoma,"  was   published  in   the 
Lebanon  Free  Press,  and  a  copy  is  preserved  in  the  state 
library. 

(c)  A  manuscript  from  James  Pike,  described  as  a  com 
plete  history  of  this   regiment,  was   lost   at  the  time  of  the 
rebuilding  of  the  state  house. 

(d)  Memoir  of  James  Pike,  Minutes  of  the  New  Hamp 
shire  Conference  (M.  E.  church),  1896,  p.  171. 

SEVENTEENTH  REGIMENT. 

1.  No  historical  sketch  appears  in  the  Adjutant-General's 
Report,  1865. 

2.  Historical    sketch,  Adjutant-General's    Report,    1866, 
Vol.  2,  pp.  866-868. 

3.  Historical  sketch,  New  Hampshire  in  the  Great  Rebel 
lion,  1870,  pp.  535-537- 

4.  Historical   sketch,  by  Henry  O.  Kent,  Revised  Regis 
ter  of  New  Hampshire  Soldiers  and  Sailors,  1895,  pp.  791- 

793- 

5.  A  history  by  Charles  N.  Kent  is  now  in  press. 

Miscellaneous. 

(a)  Act  of  Congress  relative   to   the  status  of  the  regi 
ment,  U.  S.  Statutes  at  Large,  52d  Congress,  July  21,  1892, 
Vol.  27,  p.  781. 

(b)  Sketches  of  Henry  O.  Kent,  Successful  New  Hamp- 


REGIMENTAL   PI  I  STORIES   AND    THE  STATE.         245 

shire  Men,  1882,  p.  21  ;  Granite  Monthly,  Vol.  i,  pp.  97- 
102;  History  of  Coos  County,  1888,  pp.  372-378;  New 
Hampshire  Men,  1893,  P-  332- 

BAND,  SECOND  BRIGADE,  TENTH  CORPS. 

Historical  sketch,  by  Gustavus  W.  Ingalls,  Revised  Reg 
ister  of  New  Hampshire  Soldiers  and  Sailors,  1895,  P- 
1002. 

FIRST  NEW  HAMPSHIRE  CAVALRY. 

1.  No  historical  sketch  appears  in  the  Adjutant-General's 
Report,  1865. 

2.  Historical   sketch,  by  John  L.  Thompson  and  Walter 
Perley,  Adjutant-General's  Report,    1866,  Vol.  2,  pp.  875- 
909. 

3.  Historical  sketch,  New  Hampshire  in  the  Great  Rebel 
lion,  1870,  pp.  544-554. 

4.  Historical  sketch,  by  Ervin  H.  Smith,  Revised  Regis 
ter  of  New  Hampshire  Soldiers  and  Sailors,  1895,  PP-  845- 

85i. 

5.  No  separate   history  of  this  regiment  has   been   pub 
lished  under  the  provisions  of  the  regimental  history  acts. 

Miscellaneous. 

(a)  See  Notes  on  N.  H.  Battalion  in  N.  E.  Cavalry  (or 
R.  I.  Cavalry)  ante. 

(6)  Memorial  of  John  Leverett  Thompson  of  Chicago, 
Illinois;  Chicago,  1890;  8  mo.,  cloth,  pp.  98. 

FIRST  REGIMENT  OF  HEAVY  ARTILLERY. 

1.  Historical  sketch,  by  John  C.  Jenncss,  Adjutant-Gen 
eral's  Report,  1865,  Vol.  2,  pp.   720-723. 

2.  Historical   sketch,  by  John  C.  Jcnness,  Adjutant-Gen 
eral's  Report,  1866,  Vol.  2,  pp.  928-932. 


246      SEVENTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE  REGIMENT. 

3.  Historical  sketch,  New  Hampshire  in  the  Great  Rebel 
lion,  1870,  pp.  560-566. 

4.  Historical    sketch,    by    Charles     H.     Long,    Revised 
Register  of  New  Hampshire  Soldiers  and  Sailors,  1895,  P- 
920. 

5.  No  separate  history  of  this  regiment  has  been   pub 
lished  under  the  provisions  of  the  regimental  history  acts. 

Miscellaneous. 

(a)  First  Company  of  New  Hampshire  Heavy  Artillery, 
mustered   in  May  and   July,  1863,  and   stationed   at  Ports 
mouth  and  Washington,  afterwards  made  a  part  of  the  First 
Regiment  of  New    Hampshire   Heavy  Artillery,  Historical 
Sketch,  Revised    Register  of  New  Hampshire  Soldiers  and 
Sailors,  1895,  p.  906. 

(b)  Second  Company  of  New  Hampshire  Heavy  Artil 
lery,  mustered  in  September,  1863,  and  stationed  at  Kittery 
Point,  Me.,   and  Washington,  afterwards  became    a   part  of 
the  First   Regiment  of  New  Hampshire   Heavy   Artillery ; 
Historical  Sketch,  Revised  Register  of  New  Hampshire  Sol 
diers  and  Sailors,  1895,  P-  9!3- 

(c)  Sketch  of  Charles  H.  Long,  History  of  Claremont, 
by  Otis  F.  R.  Waite,   1895,  P-  429- 

STRAFFORD  GUARDS,  DOVER. 

Historical    sketch    and    roll,    Revised    Register   of    New 
Hampshire  Soldiers  and  Sailors,  1895,  P-  9^9- 

NATIONAL  GUARDS,  MANCHESTER. 
Historical    sketch    and    roll,    Revised    Register  of     New 

o 

Hampshire  Soldiers  and  Sailors,  1895,  P-  992- 

LAFAYETTE  ARTILLERY,  LYNDEBOROUGII. 

Historical    sketch   and    roll,    Revised    Register    of     New 
Hampshire   Soldiers  and  Sailors,  1895,  P-  99$. 


REGIMENTAL   HISTORIES  AND    THE   STATE.         247 

MARTIN  GUARDS,  MANCHESTER. 

Historical    sketch    and    roll,    Revised   Register    of    New 
Hampshire  Soldiers  and  Sailors,  1895,  P-  995- 

EIGHTEENTH  REGIMENT. 

1.  No  historical  sketch  appears  in  the  Adjutant-General's 
Report,  1865. 

2.  Historical    sketch,    compiled    from    contributions    by 
Thomas   L.    Livermore,   Joseph    M.  Clough,  and  Alvah  K. 
Potter,  Adjutant-General's   Report,  1866,  Vol.  2,  pp.  869- 

874. 

3.  Historical  sketch,  New  Hampshire  in  the  Great  Rebel 
lion,  1870,  pp.  538-543- 

4.  Historical   sketch,  by  Thomas   L.  Livermore,  Revised 
Register  of  New  Hampshire  Soldiers  and  Sailors,  1895,  PP- 
801,  802. 

5.  No  separate  history  of   this   regiment  has  been   pub 
lished  under  the   provisions   of   the  regimental  history  acts. 

Miscellaneous. 

(a)  A  Night  in  the  Eighteenth  New  Hampshire  Volun 
teers,  by  Frank  P.  Harriman,  Granite  Monthly,  Vol.   5,  pp. 

146,  147- 

(b)  Sketch   of  Thomas  L.  Livermore,    History  of    Mil- 
ford,  by  George   A.    Ramsdell,  in  press;    Register,  Massa 
chusetts  Commandcry  of    the  Loyal  Legion,  1891,  p.  154; 
History  of    Suffolk  County,  Mass.,  Vol.  I,  p.  569. 


248      SEVENTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE   REGIMENT. 

NEW   HAMPSHIRE   MEN   IN   OTHER   LINES   OF  SERVICE 
THAN  THE  SPECIFIED  STATE  ORGANIZATIONS.* 

Veteran  Reserve  Corps,  Revised  Register,  p.  1,004. 

U.  S.  Colored  Troops,  (officers),      "  "          p.  1,016. 

U.  S.  Navy,  p.  1,096. 

U.  S.  Marine  Corps,  p.  1,182. 

U.  S.  Regular  Army,  p.  1,028. 

U.  S.  Volunteers,  p.  1,028. 

Organizations  of  other  states,  p.  1,028. 

The  gaps  in  this  series  are  "  not  so  deep  as  a  well,  nor 
as  wide  as  a  church  door,  but  ....  enough."  The 
more  important  deficiencies  observable  in  the  list  may  be 
enumerated  as  follows  : 

/.    The  Fourth  Regiment. 

This  organization  had  a  distinguished  record  on  the 
Atlantic  coast  and  in  the  armies  operating  in  Virginia. 
There  is  a  good  prospect  that  an  adequate  history  of  its 
service  will  be  produced. 

2.    The  Cavalry. 

The  New  Hampshire  Battalion,  First  New  England 
Cavalry  (sometimes  known  as  the  First  Rhode  Island 
Cavalry),  forming  the  nucleus  of  the  First  New  Hamp 
shire  Cavalry,  participated  in  forty-three  engagements.  It 
will  be  a  grave  misfortune  if  this  most  deserving  arm  of 
the  service  is  not  accorded  its  memorial  in  the  series. 

*In  the  New  Hampshire  Manual  for  the  General  Court  for  189^,  a  summary  is 
given  of  'he  biographies  of  natives  and  residents  of  this  state  which  have  place  in 
Appleton's  Encyclopedia  of  Biography.  The  reader  is  referred  to  this  list,  p.  51,  for 
an  interesting  catalogue  of  names  of  New  Hampshire  men  who  have  attained  high 
rank  in  the  military  service  of  the  republic.  A  biography  of  Natt  Head,  for  many 
years  Adjutant-general,  is  found  in  Successful  New  Hampshire  Men,  p.  223.  The 
war  governors,  Goodwin,  Berry,  and  Gilmore,  are  subjects  of  biography  in  New  Hamp 
shire  in  the  Great  Rebellion,  pp.  577,  579,  581. 


REGIMENTAL   HISTORIES  AND    THE   STATE.         249 

The  veteran  association  of  the  cavalry  is  entitled  to  all 
encouragement  from  the  public  to  proceed  with  the  enter 
prise  in  behalf  of  a  regimental  history  of  the  First  Cavalry 
which  shall  include  the  record  of  the  New  Hampshire  con 
tribution  to  the  First  New  England  and  the  First  Rhode 
Island. 

j.    T/ie  Light  and  Heavy  Artillery . 

These  organizations  have  not  produced  histories  for  the 
state  series.  In  conjunction,  they  might  form  a  strong  and 
successful  association  and  might  produce  a  work  covering, 
in  one  volume,  the  history  of  both  the  battery  and  the 
regiment.  This  would  give  the  artillery  a  much  merited 
recognition,  and  its  large  constituency  would  command  a 
successful  patronage.  It  would  go  far  towards  perfecting 
the  series  in  a  direction  in  which  it  is  now  lamentably  defi 
cient. 

4.  The  Tenth  Regiment. 

This  was  a  sterling  organization  with  a  noble  record. 
Good  work  has  been  done  in  the  preparation  of  its  history, 
but  its  veteran  association  has  not  yet  been  successful  in 
bringing  the  undertaking  to  completion. 

5.  The  Fifteenth  Regiment. 

This  regiment  has  a  history  in  such  an  advanced  state  of 
preparation  that  the  public  is  assured  of  its  early  presenta 
tion  with  satisfactory  completeness  in  all  essential  par 
ticulars. 

6.  The  Eighteenth  Regiment. 

This  was  a  contribution  of  volunteers  which  assisted  in 
the  important  campaigns  of  the  last  year  of  the  war.  Its 
history  should  by  all  means  be  added  to  the  splendid  sym 
posium  which  records  the  efforts  and  sacrifices  of  the 


250      SEVENTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE   KEGIMENT. 

Granite  State  for  the  Union.  It  is  a  cause  of  sincere  regret 
that  this  addition  to  the  series  has  been  so  long  de 
layed.  It  is  gratifying  to  note  recent  measures  taken  by 
the  association  which  promise  a  successful  effort  in  this 
direction  in  the  near  future. 

7.  Neiv  Hampshire  in  the  Navy. 

This  is  a  subject  that  has  place  in  this  important  scheme 
of  war  history,  and  it  has  been  the  occasion  of  special  con 
sideration  by  the  New  Hampshire  Historical  Society. 
With  the  cooperation  of  Admiral  Belknap,  Admiral  Wal 
ker,  Commodore  Perkins,  and  other  worthy  and  distin 
guished  New  Hampshire  veterans  of  the  naval  service,  it 
is  not  without  the  domain  of  probability  that  an  adequate 
history  of  New  Hampshire's  relations  to  the  navy  may  be 
produced  at  no  distant  date.  See  Report  of  a  Committee 
on  Naval  History,  Proceedings  of  the  New  Hampshire 
Historical  Society,  Vol.  2,  p.  284.* 

8.  The  Medical  Branch  of  the  Service. 

This  subject  is  entitled  to  a  separate  place  in  these  pro 
ductions,  and  the  work  is  in  active  preparation  by  compe 
tent  collaborators. 

9.  The  Chaplains. 

These  officers  are  recognized  in  the  legislation  of  the 
state  as  a  division  of  the  service  entitled  to  a  niche  in  this 

*The  list  of  distinguished  naval  officers  of  New  Hampshire  nativity  who  are  sub 
jects  of  biography  in  Appleton's  Encyclopedia  of  Biography  includes  the  names  of 
George  E.  Belknap.  Enoch  G.  Parrott,  George  F.  Pearson,  George  W.  Storer,  John  G. 
Walker,  Robert  H.  Wyman,  rear-admirals  ;  John  M.  Browne,  surgeon-general ;  John 
C.  Long,  James  F.  Miller,  Charles  W.  Pickering,  George  A.  Prentiss,  William  S. 
Walker,  commodores;  George  H.  Perkins,  Robert  T.  Spence,  James  S.  Thornton, 
captains;  Tunis  A.  McD.  Craven,  commander ;  John  Park,  surgeon.  This  work  was 
published  in  1887,  and  several  of  the  officers  named  have  s'nce  been  advanced  in  rank. 
Senator  William  E.  Chandler  was  first  solicitor  and  judge-advocate-general  of  the  navy 
department  in  1865,  and  was  afterwards  secretary  of  the  navy  in  President  Arthur's 
cabinet.  Appleton's  Encyclopedia  of  Biography,  Vol.  i,  p.  574. 


REGIMENTAL   HISTORIES  AND    THE   STATE.         251 

memorial  structure.  Adequate  organization  and  energetic 
effort  on  the  part  of  the  chaplains  is  all  that  is  necessary 
for  the  production  of  a  volume  of  biography  and  history 
that  will  wisely  serve  the  cause  which  the  chaplains  devo 
tedly  and  heroically  represented,  and  add  chapters  to  the 
military  history  of  the  state,  illustrating  the  operation  of 
the  influence  of  religion  and  humanity  in  the  midst  of  the 
hardships,  dangers,  and  horrors  of  war.* 

It  will  be  well  for  those  interested  in  the  preparation  of 
the  remaining  contributions  to  the  series  to  have  in  view 
the  requirements  of  the  law.  These  histories  must,  in 
order  to  command  the  approval  of  the  governor  and  coun 
cil,  upon  whose  judgment  the  aid  of  the  state  depends,  be 
"  faithfully,  impartially,  and  accurately  prepared,  histori 
cally  correct ;  to  contain  matter  not  otherwise  conveniently 
accessible,  and  of  sufficient  reliability  and  importance  to 
justify  this  patronage."  It  must  be  intended  by  these  pro 
visions  that  certain  features  are  indispensable.  Among 
these  requisites  should  be  an  exact  and  comprehensive 
map  of  the  routes  of  the  regiment  through  its  entire  ser 
vice,  descriptions  of  all  its  battles  and  engagements,  and 
its  other  important  lines  of  service ;  its  relations  to  other 
parts  of  the  army  with  which  it  cooperated  ;  biographies 
of  all  officers — distinct,  detailed,  complete,  and  authentic  ; 
suitable  mention  of  every  member  whose  death  in  the  ser 
vice,  conspicuous  merit  as  a  soldier,  or  other  exceptional 
reasons  render  his  individuality  deserving  of  this  distinc 
tion  ;  all  available  rolls  of  membership,  and  the  statistics 
which  the  best  standards  for  such  undertakings  prescribe. 

*The  First  Regiment  of  New  Hampshire  Volunteers  in  the  war  with  Spain,  1898,  is 
about  to  return  from  its  service  without  having  been  afforded  an  opportunity  to  test  its 
quality  at  the  front  of  battle.  Its  history  will  be  written,  and  may  properly  be 
accorded  the  patronage  of  the  state.  It  is  not  doubted  that,  had  the  coveted  post  of 
honor  been  granted  to  these  men,  as  it  was  to  the  New  Hampshire-born  leader  of  the 
"  Rough  Riders  "  at  Santiago,  they  also  would  have  demonstrated  what  the  traditions 
and  tutelage  of  Stark,  Miller,  and  Cross  mean  for  the  military  spirit  which  will  now 
and  hereafter  bear  aloft  the  standards  of  the  state  and  the  Union. 


252       SEVENTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE   REGIMENT. 

Above  all,  painstaking  industry  in  the  collection  of  mate 
rial,  and  courageous  honesty  in  the  narrative  of  events,  and 
the  treatment  of  every  pertinent  topic  are  the  essentials  to 
the  value  and  success  of  any  one  of  these  volumes  as  a 
constituent  part  of  the  history  of  the  Civil  War.  There 
are  many  models  of  excellence  in  this  class  of  publications, 
but  none  more  worthy  of  adoption  by  those  who  have  to 
do  with  similar  undertakings  than  several  of  the  New 
Hampshire  series. 

The  text  of  the  successive  acts  of  the  legislature  on  this 
subject  will  be  appended  to  this  article. 

They  are  based  upon  the  idea  of  a  practical  encourage 
ment  of  literature,  education,  and  patriotism,  a  working 
principle  made  prominent  by  the  fathers  in  the  constitu 
tion  and  approved  by  the  people  in  the  whole  period  of 
the  governmental  history  of  the  state.  The  theory  of  the 
legislative  aid  thus  bestowed  is  to  help  those  who  help 
themselves.  Under  its  operation,  the  veteran  associations 
which  promptly  assume  the  responsibility  of  placing  their 
records  in  a  printed  form  which  complies  with  the  statutes 
will  be  certain  of  the  patronage  of  the  state.  This,  how 
ever,  does  not  make  such  undertakings  sources  of  profit  to 
the  movers,  but  it  does  obviate  the  necessity  of  any  con 
siderable  financial  loss.  The  state  is  a  patron  of  these 
publications  to  the  extent  of  about  four  hundred  copies  of 
each  for  distribution  among  the  cities,  towns,  libraries, 
through  exchanges,  and  for  official  reference.  The  state 
has  fairly  met  the  reasonable  requests  of  the  veterans  in 
this  behalf.  It  only  remains  for  the  organizations  still 
delinquent  to  bring  this  beneficent  and  far-reaching  under 
taking  to  a  successful  completion  by  prompt  and  faithful 
conformity  to  the  requirements  of  the  acts,  and  by  seizing 
the  opportunity  tendered  by  the  wisdom  of  the  people. 

The  immediate  utility  of  these  works  in  the  curriculum 
of  historical  study  for  the  schools  of  the  state  is  manifest. 


REGIMENTAL   HISTORIES  AND    THE   STATE.         253 

Every  town  has  one  or  two  sets  available  for  the  purpose. 
By  the  topical  method  of  investigation  the  pupils  can  be 
directed  to  search  the  general  course  of  our  military  history, 
and  need  not  be  left  uninformed  as  to  what  is  the  record  of 
their  own  state  in  this  remarkable  period.  These  books 
record  the  fact  that  Ladd,  the  first  man  who  fell  in  the  Sixth 
Massachusetts  in  Baltimore,  was  a  son  of  New  Hampshire ; 
that  the  Fifth  regiment  lost  more  men  in  battle  than  any 
other  infantry  regiment  in  the  Union  army  ;  that  the  Seventh 
lost  more  officers  in  a  single  engagement  (Fort  Wagner) 
than  any  other  infantry  regiment  in  the  Union  army;  that 
the  men  of  the  Twelfth  and  Thirteenth  regiments  were  the 
first  organized  bodies  to  enter  Richmond  ;  that  the  percent 
age  of  loss  by  the  Twelfth  was  greater  than  that  of  the  Fifth  ; 
that  the  losses  of  the  Ninth  and  Sixteenth  from  exposure 
and  other  causes  place  the  debt  due  to  them  for  devotion 
and  sacrifice  among  the  first  in  the  fateful  catalogue ;  that 
the  other  regiments  exhibit  records  of  singular  distinction 
according  to  their  opportunities  in  the  service  ;  and  they 
prove  that,  relating  to  every  one  of  these  organizations, 
there  is  most  valuable  historical  material  which  renders 
their  publications  indispensable  to  any  measurably  com 
plete  collection  of  Americana. 

Indeed,  so  abundant  is  the  information  available  to  the 
student  of  this  series  of  histories,  so  great  is  its  value,  and 
so  striking  is  the  lesson  of  good  citizenship  and  patriotism 
it  teaches,  that  indifference  to  it  is  discreditable  to  the  sys 
tem  under  which  our  youth  are  passing  from  the  period  of 
scholastic  instruction  to  the  active  duties  and  responsibil 
ities  of  private  business  or  public  service. 

It  is  not  an  unimportant  consideration  that  the  historians 
of  these  events  were  the  actors  in  them.  Every  passage  in 
the  narratives  is  a  statement  of  fact  under  the  light  and 
guidance  of  actual  experience  but  with  a  modest  and  cau 
tious  reserve  which  excludes  that  over-coloring  of  imagina- 


254       SEVENTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE   REGIMENT. 

tion   and   exaggeration   that  often    mars  the   pages  of  his 
tory. 

"A  wonderful  man  was  this  Caesar, 

*********** 

Who  could  both  write  and  fight,  and  in  both  was  equally  skilful.11 

General  Head  pointedly  states  the  facts  as  to  the  insuffi 
ciency  of  the  published  rolls  of  1865,  and  explains  the 
reasons  for  the  deficits  which  are  admitted.  In  a  new 
series  of  rolls  in  volume  I  of  the  report  of  1866,  many  cor 
rections  are  made,  but  still  large  blocks  of  names  which 
had  been  given  in  the  rolls  of  1865  are  designedly  omitted 
or  extensively  abridged  in  the  revision  of  the  following 
year.  These  three  volumes,  however,  remained  the  only 
authority  conveniently  accessible  to  the  general  public  rela 
ting  to  this  subject  and  this  period  until  1895.  They  con 
tain  many  original  documents  and  reports  relative  to  mili 
tary  affairs  in  the  war  period.  Other  contemporary  public 
documents  arc  of  value  for  reference  in  relation  to  this 
subject.  The  messages  of  the  war  governors,  the  legisla 
tive  journals  and  acts,  the  reports  of  auditors,  treasurers, 
and  other  state  officials  are  never-failing  sources  of  infor 
mation  for  the  historians  of  New  Hampshire.* 

Not  only  were  the  lists  contained  in  the  reports  of  1865 
and  1866  deficient  in  details  and  incorrect  in  respect  to 
personnel,  but  several  branches  of  the  service  in  which 
New  Hampshire  was  represented  were  entirely  overlooked. 
In  this  category  were  the  contributions  both  to  the  naval 
service  proper  and  to  the  marines,  to  the  regular  army,  the 
assignments  to  the  regiments  of  colored  troops,  the  Dart- 

*  See  also  Waite's  New  Hampshire  in  the  Great  Rebellion,  1870,  and  Sketches  of 
the  Life  and  Public  Services  of  Frederick  Smyth,  by  Ben.  Perley  Poore  and  F.  B. 
Eaton,  1885.  Governor  Smyth,  as  councillor  and  otherwise,  had  much  to  do  with  the 
affairs  of  the  state  in  the  war  period,  though  he  was  not,  as  is  often  erroneously  stated, 
a  war  governor.  Chapter  XIX,  McClintock's  History  of  New  Hampshire,  1889,  pp. 
611-630,  is  a  summary  of  the  history  of  the  state  in  its  relations  with  the  Civil  War. 


REGIMENTAL   HISTORIES  AND    THE   STAl^E.         255 

mouth  Cavaliers,  and  other  organizations  and  special 
departments  of  service. 

The  "  Revised  Register  of  New  Hampshire  Soldiers  and 
Sailors  in  the  War  of  the  Rebellion,"  compiled  by  Adjutant- 
General  Augustus  D.  Ayling  and  published  in  1895,  is 
complete,  reliable,  and  comprehensive  in  all  the  features 
that  are  looked  for  in  works  of  this  nature.* 

A  degree  of  perfection  has  actually  been  attained  in  this 
compilation  which  places  it  in  the  first  rank  in  the  litera 
ture  of  statistical  history.  The  work  was  prosecuted  and 
perfected  on  the  plan  outlined  in  the  report  of  a  committee 
of  the  governor  and  council  f  adopted  in  1889. 

The  original  bill,  introduced  in  the  House  in  1885  by 
Representative  Musgrove  of  Bristol,  passing  to  the  senate, 
was  referred  to  the  committee  on  military  affairs,  of  which 
Senator  Kent  was  a  member,  and,  with  his  cooperation,  it 
speedily  passed  to  enactment. 

A  representation  from  this  state  was  urged  upon  Con 
gress  in  1888  in  favor  of  such  amendment  of  the  bill  pro 
viding  for  the  eleventh  census  as  should  make  it  effectually 
inclusive  of  all  the  surviving  veterans  and  wridows  of  veter 
ans  of  the  Civil  War.  This  was  earnestly  seconded  by 
prominent  New  Hampshire  veterans  and  our  state  delega 
tion  in  Congress.  The  words  in  italics  in  the  following 

*  The  first  mention  of  the  office  of  Adjutant-General  is  in  the  Revolutionary  period. 
The  list  of  incumbents  to  March  25,  1864,  is  given  in  Adjutant-General's  Report,  1868, 
p.  381.  Gen.  Natt  Head  then  came  to  the  office  by  appointment  of  Governor  Gil- 
more.  General  Head  continued  at  the  head  of  this  department  until  July  n,  1870. 
Between  that  date  and  1879  the  incumbents  were  as  follows: 

John  M.  Haines,  appointed  July  11,  1870. 

Andrew  J.  Edgerly,  appointed  Aug.  14,  1874. 

Ira  Cross,  appointed  March  2,  1876. 

General  Ayling  was  cr  mmissioned  July  15,  1879,  and  has  continued  in  the  office  to 
the  present  time.  New  Hampshire  Men,  1893,  p.  7  ;  Register,  Mass.  Commandery  of 
the  Loyal  Legion,  1891,  p.  28. 

t  Report  of  the  Executive  Council  on  Revision  of  Record  of  New  Hampshire  Sol 
diers  and  Sailors  in  the  War  of  the  Rebellion,  1889,  by  A.  S.  Batehellor  and  John  C. 
Linehan,  pamphlet ;  same  in  Adjutant-General's  Report,  1889,  pp.  46-64. 


256       SEVENTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE   REGIMENT. 

quotation  from   section    17   of  the    bill    indicate   what   was 
accomplished: 

"  Provided,  however,  that  said  superintendent  shall,  under  the 
authority  of  the  Secretary  of  the  Interior,  cause  to  be  taken  on  a 
special  schedule  of  enquiry,  according  to  such  form  as  he  may  pre 
scribe,  the  names,  organisations,  and  length  of  service  of  those  who 
had  served  in  the  army,  navy,  or  marine  corps  of  the  United  States  in 
the  War  of  the  Rebellion,  and  who  are  survivors  at  the  time  of  said 
inquiry,  and  the  widows  of  soldiers,  sailors,  or  marines." 

This  information  is  now  in  the  government  archives,  and, 
if  published,  would  undoubtedly  locate  and  identify  a  mul 
titude  of  veterans  whose  records  are  still  incomplete.  It 
was  expected  that  this  comprehensive  collection  of  data 
would  be  available  to  the  compiler  of  the  Revised  Register, 
but  the  Federal  government  failed  to  publish  that  part  of 
the  census  information. 

General  Ayling  added  important  original  historical 
sketches  of  the  several  organizations  sent  into  service  by 
the  state.  These  were  contributed  by  regimental  histori 
ans  or  others  qualified  by  special  opportunities  for  accu 
rate  information  on  the  subject.  Carefully  compiled  tables 
of  the  numerical  strength  of  each  regiment  or  lesser  forma 
tion,  with  losses  for  various  causes,  are  a  feature  of  the 
work.  The  works  of  Mr.  Phisterer  on  the  "  Statistical 
Records  of  the  Armies  of  the  United  States,"  and  of  Mr. 
Fox  on  "  Regimental  Losses  in  the  American  Civil  War," 
are  convenient  supplements  for  use  with  General  Ayling's 
production.  The  important  substratum  of  this  work, 
however,  is  the  personal  history  it  gives  of  every  New 
Hampshire  man  enrolled,  a  total  of  more  than  thirty  thou 
sand  names.  In  each  instance  it  is  simple,  terse,  and 
authentic.  All  that  painstaking  research  can  do  to  clear 
these  individual  records  from  doubt  and  uncertainty  and  to 
accord  an  enduring  memorial  to  every  soldier  of  the  state, 


REGIMENTAL  HISTORIES  AND    THE   STATE.         257 

characterizes    this   "  New   Hampshire   Register  of  Soldiers 
and  Sailors  in  the  War  of  the  Rebellion." 

The  theory  of  the  history  of  the  several  aggregations  of 
these  men  in  ship,  regiment,  troop,  and  battery  is  to  indi 
vidualize  the  New  Hampshire  organizations  as  distinct 
components  of  the  great  Northern  army  of  1861  to  1865, 
and  to  supplement  the  record  of  the  individual  volunteer  by 
the  more  comprehensive  narrative,  which  has  place  in  the 
regimental  history  series.  By  this  monumental  literature 
heroic  names  and  heroic  deeds  are  commemorated,  and 
the  lessons  and  examples  of  the  highest  patriotism  passed 
on  through  the  coming  ages  of  American  progress. 

LEGISLATION  IN  AID  OF  REGIMENTAL  HISTORIES. 

(LAWS  OF  1887,  CHAPTER  145.) 

JOINT  RESOLUTION  in  relation  to  the  purchase  ot  the  histories 
of  military  organizations  of  the  state  in  the  late  war. 

Resolved  by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  in  Genera 
Court  convened : 

The  secretary  of  state  is  authorized  to  purchase  copies  of  the  history 
of  each  regiment  of  New  Hampshire  Volunteers  which  served  in  the 
War  of  the  Rebellion,  to  be  distributed  as  follows  :  Five  copies  for 
the  use  of  the  state  library,  five  for  the  use  of  the  New  Hampshire  His 
torical  Society,  one  for  the  library  of  Dartmouth  College,  one  for  the 
office  of  secretary  of  state,  one  for  the  office  of  the  adjutant-gen 
eral,  and  one  for  each  town  and  city  in  the  state  ;  provided,  that  the 
maximum  price  to  be  paid  for  each  volume  for  a  regiment  of  three  years" 
service  shall  in  no  case,  except  as  in  special  cases  hereinafter  provided, 
exceed  two  dollars  and*fifty  cents,  which  price  is  authorized  for  volumes 
containing  as  much  printed  matter  and  as  substantially  bound  as  the 
cloth  editions  of  the  history  of  the  Fourteenth  New  Hampshire  Volun 
teers,  recently  published,  and  in  case  the  volumes  to  be  purchased  under 
authority  of  this  resolution  shall  contain  less  matter  than  said  Fourteenth 
regiment  history,  a  corresponding  reduction  from  said  maximum  price 
shall  be  required,  and  no  such  histories  shall  be  purchased  unless  the 
same  shall  have  been  prepared  by  authority  of  the  proper  regimental 
17 


258      SEVENTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE   REGIMENT. 

association,  shall  have  been  found  by  the  governor  and  council  to  be, 
as  for  as  practicable  in  such  works,  faithfully,  impartially,  and  accurately 
prepared,  historically  correct,  to  contain  matter  not  otherwise  conven 
iently  accessible,  and  of  sufficient  reliability  and  importance  to  justify 
this  patronage ;  provided,  that  in  case  the  history  of  the  regiment  of 
the  three  years1  term  or  longer  as  actually  published,  cannot  be  obtained 
at  the  prices  aforesaid  on  account  of  historical  matter  necessarily  con 
tained  therein,  the  governor  and  council  may  authorize  the  secretary  of 
state  to  purchase  the  same  for  the  purposes  aforesaid  at  such  prices  as 
they  may  deem  just  between  the  parties. 
(Approved  October  21,  1887.) 


(LAWS  OF  1889,  CHAPTER  128.) 

JOINT  RESOLUTION  relating  to  histories  of  New  Hampshire 
organizations  in  the  War  of  the  Rebellion. 

Resolved  by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  in  General 
Court  convened : 

SECTION  i .  The  provisions  of  the  joint  resolution  in  relation  to  the 
purchase  of  the  histories  of  military  organizations  of  this  state  in  the 
ate  war,  approved  October  21,  1887,  shall  also  include  and  be  appli 
cable  to  like  works  relating  to  or  prepared  for  the  First  Light  Battery, 
the  Sharpshooters,  the  Naval  Contingent  from  this  state,  and  the  repre 
sentation  from  this  state  in  the  regular  army  ;  provided,  that  the  history 
of  each  of  these  several  divisions  of  the  New  Hampshire  men  serving 
in  the  War  of  the  Rebellion  shall  not  require  more  than  one  volume. 

SECT.  2.  The  secretary  of  state  is  authorized  to  procure  in  accordance 
with  the  provisions  of  said  joint  resolution  of  1887,  and  in  addition  to 
the  number  therein  mentioned,  fifty  copies  of  each  of  said  histories,  to 
be  placed  in  the  state  libraries  of  other  states,  and  in  the  libraries  of 
the  principal  cities  of  other  states,  or  exchanged  for  similar  works,  in 
order  that  records  of  the  part  taken  in  the  War  of  the  Rebellion  by 
New  Hampshire  organizations  may  be  equally  accessible  with  other 
similar  works  at  the  capitals  of  the  country. 

(Approved  August  16,  1889.) 


REGIMENTAL   HISTORIES  AND    THE   STATE.          259 
(LAWS  OF  1891,  CHAPTER  14.) 

AN  ACT  in  aid  of  the  public  libraries  of  this  state. 

Be  it  enacted  by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  in  General 
Court  convened : 

1  SECTION  i.  The  secretary  of  state  shall  procure  and  furnish  to  each 
public  library  in  this  state,  and  the  Soldiers'  Home,  one  copy  of  each 
history  of  New  Hampshire  organizations  in  the  War  of  the  Rebellion 
which  is  not  out  of  print,  and  has  been  or  may  be  hereafter  published 
in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  existing  laws. 

SECT.  2.  This  act  shall  be  in  aid  of  only  such  libraries  as  are  reg 
ularly  open  for  the  use  of  the  public  in  the  towns  and  cities  where  they 
may  be  located,  and  which  are  duly  designated  as  public  libraries  enti 
tled  to  receive  state  publications  by  the  governor  and  council,  in 
accordance  with  existing  laws  on  the  first  day  of  February  next  follow 
ing  the  publication  of  such  history. 

SECT.  3.  This  act  shall  take  effect  upon  its  passage. 

(Approved  March  12,  1891.) 


(LAWS  OF  1885,  CHAPTER  120.) 

JOINT  RESOLUTION  in  relation  to  the  duties  of  the  adjutant- 
general.  Two  hundred  dollars  conditionally  appropriated  for  making 
abstracts  of  military  records. 

Resolved  by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  in  General 
Court  convened : 

That  the  adjutant-general  is  hereby  authorized  to  prepare  abstracts 
from  the  records  of  his  office  for  the  use  of  any  persons  actually  engaged 
in  the  preparation  of  histories  of  regiments  or  other  military  organiza 
tions,  or  the  military  history  of  towns  in  this  state ;  and  for  such 
clerical  assistance  as  may  be  necessary  to  enable  him  to  perform  said 
duties,  he  shall  be  paid  out  of  any  money  in  the  treasury  not  otherwise 
appropriated,  upon  due  warrant  of  the  governor;  provided,  that  such 
abstracts  shall  not  be  required  under  this  resolution  unless  the  prepara 
tion  of  such  histories  shall  have  been  authorized  by  vote  of  the  town  or 
city  or  veteran  association  to  which  it  particularly  relates  ;  and  further 
provided,  that  the  expense  for  clerk  hire  shall  in  no  case  exceed  two 
hundred  dollars  in  any  one  year. 

(Approved  August  13,  1885.) 


260      SEVENTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE   REGIMENT. 

(CHAPTER  120,   LAWS  OF  1891.) 

JOINT  RESOLUTION  relating  to  the  collection  of  pictures  and 
portraits  illustrative  of  the  part  taken  by  this  state  in  the  War  of  the 
Rebellion. 

Resolved  by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  in  General 
Court  convened: 

That  the  sum  of  one  hundred  dollars  is  hereby  annually  appropriated 
to  be  expended  by  the  adiutant-general,  under  the  direction  of  the  gov 
ernor  and  council,  to  procure  photographs  and  other  illustrations  of  the 
part  taken  by  this  state  in  the  War  of  the  Rebellion,  to  be  preserved 
and  exhibited  in  the  state  house. 

(Approved  April  n,  1891.) 


(CHAPTER  45,   LAWS  OF  1895.) 

AN  ACT  in  amendment  of  chapter  14  of  the  Laws  of  1891,  relat 
ing  to  free  public  libraries. 

Be  it  enacted  by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  in  Gen 
eral  Court  convened: 

SECTION  I .  The  authority  given  the  governor  and  council  and  sec 
retary  of  state  with  reference  to  furnishing  regimental  histories  to  free 
public  libraries  and  other  recipients  designated  bylaw,  shall  include  the 
histories  of  the  New  Hampshire  contingent  in  the  organization  of 
sharpshooters,  the  New  Hampshire  batteries,  the  organization  desig 
nated  as  the  Seventeenth  Regiment  of  Infantry,  the  service  of  the  New 
Hampshire  men  in  the  medical  department,  and  the  services  of  those 
commissioned  and  acting  as  chaplains  in  the  War  of  the  Rebellion  ; 
provided,  the  regular  veteran  association  of  those  organizations  or 
classes  in  the  service  shall  approve  of  the  works  as  published,  and  com 
pliance  shall  be  made  with  all  other  provisions  of  law  relating  to  such 
publications. 

SECT.  2.  All  acts  and  parts  of  acts  inconsistent  with  the  provisions 
of  this  act  are  hereby  repealed,  and  this  act  shall  take  effect  upon  its 
passage. 

(Approved  March  19,  1895.) 


CHAPTER  XXXIX. 

ELDER  JOHN  G.  HOOK. 

(Contributed.) 

Elder  John  G.  Hook  and  his  good  wife  had  what  they 
were  wont  to  term  a  "  victualling  place  "  on  the  bluff  near 
Camp  Ethan  Colby,  and  supplied  the  members  of  the  Sev 
enteenth  Regiment  with  pies,  cakes,  and  delicacies  which 
were  not  included  in  the  army  rations.  They  also  minis 
tered  tenderly  to  the  sick  in  the  camp,  and  interested 
themselves  in  many  ways  in  the  welfare  of  the  soldier  boys. 
The  house  \vhich  was  then  their  headquarters  is  standing, 
and  is  much  the  same  as  when  it  sheltered  them  in  the 
days  when  the  men  of  the  Seventeenth  were  near  neigh 
bors  and  frequent  visitors,  but  the  Hook  residence  for 
many  years  has  been  in  another  portion  of  the  city.  Mrs. 
Hook  has  gone  to  her  reward,  but  the  venerable  elder  is 
still  able  to  carry  on  the  work  in  which  he  has  been 
engaged  fifty-six  years, — preaching  the  religion  of  Jesus 
Christ  as  he  understands  it,  after  his  own  fashion,  giving 
comfort  to  the  sorrowing,  and  pointing  out  to  those  who 
might  grope  darkly  to  the  end  but  for  his  simple,  earnest 
pleading,  a  way  to  a  better  life. 

Fifty-six  years  a  preacher  without  parish  or  salary ! 
Such  is  the  unique  record  of  one  of  the  most  unique  figures 
in  the  religious  work  of  his  day  and  generation.  To  an 
inquiry  as  to  how  he  had  been  able  to  support  himself  and 
his  family  these  many  years,  when  his  service  had  been  so 
largely  one  of  unrecompensed  endeavor,  the  elder  made 
answer:  "  I  have  earned  my  living  with  my  hands,  while  I 


262      SEVENTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE   REGIMENT. 


i 


was  doing  my  Master's  bidding."  Those  familiar  with  the 
home  life  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hook  know  that  not  only  has 
their  store  been  equal  to  their  own  necessities,  but  that 
there  has  always  been  enough  and  to  spare  for  those  less 
fortunate  than  themselves.  No  brighter  chapter  in  the  life 

of  Elder  Hook   could   be 

, 

written  than  the  one  which 
should  enumerate  his  acts 
of  charity  and  generos 
ity,  unobtrusive  and  unre 
mitting.  The  Hon.  Henry 
Robinson  wrote  of  Elder 
Hook  in  a  newspaper  arti 
cle  a  few  years  since  :  "Of 
his  life  here  in  our  own 
city  of  Concord,  where  he 
has  resided  for  forty  years, 
it  may  be  said  safely  that 
no  resident  has  been  more 
generous  with  his  hospi 
tality,  and  more  open- 
hearted  in  his  sympathies. 
He  and  his  lovely  wife 
kept  open  house,  and  no 
body,  black  or  white,  drunk  or  sober,  rich  or  poor,  high 
or  low,  wras  ever  turned  away  from  Elder  John's  door. 
The  ragged  have  been  clothed,  the  hungry  fed,  and  he  has 
visited  the  sick  and  the  imprisoned." 

But  fifty-six  years  a  preacher  without  parish  or  salary 
by  no  means  implies  that  congregations  have  been  want 
ing.  Indeed,  it  has  been  the  privilege  of  few  of  Elder 
Hook's  contemporaries  to  proclaim  the  gospel  in  more 
widely  separated  sections,  among  more  diversified  sur 
roundings,  or  under  more  interesting  conditions.  Two 
hundred  thousand  miles  is  probably  not  an  exaggeration 


ELDER  JOHN  G.  HOOK. 


ELDER  JOHN  G    HOOK.  263 

of  the  distance  he  has  traveled  in  the  prosecution  of  his 
work  as  an  independent  evangelist  of  the  Second  Advent 
faith,  and  the  number  of  converts  who  have  received  the 
rites  of  baptism  at  his  hands  exceeds  three  thousand.  He 
has  labored  in  many  sections  of  his  own  country,  and  also 
in  other  lands.  Nova  Scotia  has  been  visited  at  nine  dif 
ferent  times,  great  success  attending  his  meetings  there, 
while  one  of  the  most  remarkable  chapters  of  his  life's 
work  covers  his  visit  to  the  Sandwich  Islands,  where  he 
spoke  to  thousands,  and  made  many  converts.  A  remark 
able  record  was  made  in  San  Francisco,  where  he  held 
meetings  for  eighty  consecutive  days,  preaching  three 
times  each  day.  The  Chronicle  of  that  city,  speaking  of 
these  meetings,  in  connection  with  a  great  Moody  and 
Sankey  revival  which  followed  them,  said  :  "Elder  Hook 
is  to  Moody  and  Sankey  what  John  the  Baptist  was  to 
Jesus  Christ.  He  has  prepared  the  way  for  them."  It 
has  been  said  of  Elder  Hook,  and  without  exaggeration, 
that  he  has  baptized  in  the  Atlantic  and  Pacific  oceans,  in 
nearly  all  the  rivers  of  New  England,  in  hundreds  of  small 
streams,  and  in  the  East  river,  New  York,  when  both  the 
tide  and  ice  were  running  high. 

Elder  Hook  was  born  in  1820;  he  was  converted  to  the 
Second  Advent  faith  in  1839,  and  began  to  preach  in 
1842.  The  fiftieth  anniversary  of  his  first  sermon  was 
celebrated  by  preaching  three  times  in  the  school-house 
where  he  first  delivered  the  Word.  On  the  same  anni 
versary  day  he  dined  in  the  house  in  which  he  was  born. 
Although  well  along  in  the  second  half  century  of  his 
work  as  an  evangelist,  his  zeal  has  not  lessened  or  his 
power  diminished.  Generous  almost  to  a  fault,  and  think 
ing  least  of  all  of  the  material  results  of  his  labors  as  a 
preacher,  Elder  Hook  has  withal  been  prospered.  The 
section  of  the  city  of  Concord  in  which  he  has  for  many 
years  made  his  home  and  held  largely  of  real  estate,  has 


264      SEVENTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE  REGIMENT. 

lately  become  one  of  the  most  attractive  residence  portions 
of  the  city,  and  no  one  begrudges  the  good  elder  the  com 
petence  which  the  boom  in  "West  End"  land  has  brought 
him.  The  companion  of  many  years  no  longer  sustains 
him  with  helpful  sympathy  and  gentle  offices,  but  her  good 
qualities  are  preserved  in  the  persons  of  children  and  grand 
children,  whose  constant  care  is  that  the  aged  elder  shall 
want  for  nothing  that  loving  hearts  can  suggest  or  willing 
hands  supply. 


APPENDIX. 


ROSTER 

OF  THE  SEVENTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE  INFANTRY, 
INCLUDING  ONLY  MEN  IN  CAMP  DURING  WINTER  OF 
1862-63,  AND  NOT  INCLUDING  THE  NEARLY  SEVEN 
HUNDRED  FROM  THE  THIRD  DISTRICT  TRANSFERRED 
TO  THE  FIFTEENTH  AND  SIXTEENTH  INFANTRY. 

OFFICERS.— FIELD  AND  STAFF. 

Colonel. — Henry  O.  Kent. 

Lieutenant-Colonel. — Charles  H.  Long. 

Major. — George  H.  Bellows. 

Adjutant. — George  A.  Wainwright. 

Quartermaster. — Edward  N.  Cummings. 

Acting  Commissary. — Ira  S.  M.  Gove. 

Surgeon. — James  A.  Folsom. 

Assistant  Surgeons. — Luther  C.  Bean,  Horatio  N.  Small. 

Chaplain. — George  S.  Barnes. 

CAPTAINS. 

Jared  I.  Williams,  Company  A. 
Isaac  F.  Jenness,  Company  B. 
Calvin  S.  Brown,  Company  C. 

FIRST  LIEUTENANTS. 

James  S.  Brackett,  Company  A. 
Frank  D.  Webster,  Company  B. 
Charles  N.  Kent,  Company  C. 

SECOND   LIEUTENANTS. 

Joseph  Chase,  Company  A. 
Ammi  Farr,  Company  B. 
Josiah  Bellows,  Company  C. 


268  APPENDIX. 

NON-COMMISSIONED     OFFICERS. 
James  W.  Perkins,  Sergeant  Major. 
John  P.  Denison,  Commissary  Sergeant. 
John  C.  Jenness,  Quartermaster  Sergeant. 
Albro  L.  Robinson,  Hospital  Steward. 
Albert  F.  Whipple,  Principal  Musician. 

SERGEANTS. — COMPANY  A. 
Charles  E.  King,  First  Sergeant. 
Walter  S.  Bailey.  William  B.  Ingalls. 

Ezra  B.  Bennett.  Charles  A.  Larkin. 

Charles  H.  Brown.  William  L.  Rowell. 

SERGEANTS. — COMPANY  B. 
Clarence  S.  Gray,  First  Sergeant. 

Charles  A.  Grant.  Christopher  W.  Harrold, 

George  H.  Ham.  Samuel  P.  Holt. 

SERGEANTS. — COMPANY  C. 
John  G.  Derby,  First  Sergeant. 
Hale  Chadwick. 

CORPORALS. — COMPANY  A. 

George  Blood.  Robert  King. 

William  J.  Chamberlain.  Thomas  P.  Moody. 

Simpson  E.  Chase.  Sidney  H.  Peaslee. 

William  A.  Dow.  Frank  Rafferty,  Jr. 

George  H.  Emerson.  Oliver  P.  Smith. 

Hezekiah  E.  Hancock.  Elery  Wheeler. 

CORPORALS. — COMPANY  B. 
Joseph  WT.  Ackerman.  Perry  C.  Moore. 

Joseph  W.  Brickett.  Henry  P.  Morse. 

Joseph  Fuller.  Louis  H.  Rand. 

John  F.  Gallagher.  Charles  W.  Stevens. 

Joseph  O.  Ham.  Charles  H.  Stuart. 

Alvin  Hariman. 


COMPLETE  LIST 

OF  OFFICERS  AND  MEN,  COMPILED  FROM  ADJUTANT- 
GENERAL  AYLING'S  REGISTER  AND  REGIMENTAL  ROS 
TER,  1895. 

ABBREVIATIONS  USED. 

Adjt.,  Adjutant.  App.,  Appointed. 

A.  Q.  M.,  Assistant  Quartermaster.  Art.,  Artillery. 

Asst.,  Assistant.  B.  (b.),  Born. 

Batt'l,  Battalion.  Capt.,  Captain. 

Captcl,  Captured.  Cav.,  Cavalry. 

Co.,  Company.  Col.,  Colonel. 

Com.,  Commissary,  Commission.  Com'd,  Commissioned. 

Corp.,  Corporal.  Cred.,  Credited  to. 

C.  S.,  Commissary  of  Subsistence.  Dept,  Department. 

Des.,  Deserted.  Dis.,  Disease. 

Disab.,  Disabled.  Disch.,  Discharged. 

Enl.,  Enlisted.  F.  and  S.,  Field  and  Staff. 

Gd.  from  mis.,  Gained  from  missing.  H.,  Heavy. 

Hosp.,  Hospital.  Inf.,  Infantry. 

L.,  Light.  Lt.,  Lieutenant. 

Maj.,  Major.  Mis.,  Missing. 

M.  o.  r.,  Muster  out  roll.  Muse.,  Musician. 

Must.,  Muster,  mustered.  N.  f.  r.  A.  O.  G.,  No  further  record, 

Adjutant  General's  office,  Wash 
ington,  D.  C. 

Non.-com.,  Non-commissioned.  Par.,  Paroled. 

P.  o.  a.  d.,  Post-office  address  last  known.  Prin.,  Principal. 

Priv.,  Private.  Prom.,  Promoted. 

Q.  M.,  Quartermaster.  Re-enl.,  Re-enlisted. 

Regt.,  Regiment.  Res.,  Residence. 

Sergt.,  Sergeant.  Sev.,  Severely. 

Surg.,  Surgeon.  Tm.  ex.,  Term  expired. 

Tr.,  Transferred.  U.  S.  A.,  United  States  Army. 

Unas'd,  Unassigned.  V.,  Volunteers. 

V.  R.  C.,  Veteran  Reserve  Corps.  Wd.,  Wounded. 

Wds.,  Wounds. 

ACKERMAN,  JOSEPH  VV.  Co.  B;  b.  Portsmouth;  age  20; 
res.  Portsmouth;  cred.  Portsmouth;  enl.  Oct.  4,  '62  ; 
must,  in  Nov.  13,  '62,  as  Corp.;  reported  on  roll  dated 
Apr.  16,  '63,  as  transferred  on  that  date  to  2  N.  H.  V.; 
never  joined  2  Regt.  N.  f.  r.  A.  G.  O. 

ALBERT,  CARL.  Co.  C;  b.  Germany;  age  22;  res. Wind- 
ham  ;  cred.  Windham  ;  enl.  Dec.  23,  '62;  must,  in  Dec. 
26,  '62,  as  Priv.  ,  des.  N.  f.  r.  A.  G.  O. 


270  APPENDIX. 

ARD,  GEORGE.  Co.  A;  b.  Portsmouth  ;  age  21  ;  res.  Sea- 
brook,  cred.  Seabrook;  enl.  Nov.  25,  '62;  must,  in 
Nov.  25,  '62,  as  Priv. ;  des.  N.  f.  r.  A.  G.  O. 

ARMEL,  WILLIAM.  Co.  A ;  b.  Canada ;  age  24 ;  res. 
Strafford,  cred.  Strafford ;  enl.  Nov.  20,  '62  ;  must,  in 
Nov.  22,  '62,  as  Priv.;  des.  N.  f.  r.  A.  G.  O. 

BACHELDER,  GEORGE  F.  Co.  C;  b.  Concord;  age  18; 
cred.  Windham ;  enl.  Nov.  28,  '62;  must,  in  Dec.  26, 
'62,  as  Priv.;  tr.  to  Co.  I,  2  N.  H.  V.,  Apr.  16,  '63; 
must,  out  Oct.  9,  '63.  Supposed  identical  with  George 
F.  Batcheldcr,  Co.  G,  18  N.  H.  V. 

BAILEY,  WALTER  S.  Co.  A  ;  b.  Massena,  N.  Y. ;  age  22  ; 
res.  Lancaster,  cred.  Lancaster;  enl.  Oct.  21,  '62;  must, 
in  Nov.  22,  '62,  as  Priv.;  app.  Sergt. ;  must,  out  Apr. 
16,  '63.  P.  O.  ad.,  Lancaster.  See  I  Co.,  N.  H.  H.  Art. 

BARNES,  GEORGE  S.  F.  and  S. ;  b.  Charlotte,  Vt. ;  age 
32;  res.  Seabrook;  app.  Chaplain  Nov.  4,  '62;  not 
must.;  paid  by  state  of  New  Hampshire  from  Nov.  18, 
'62,  to  Apr.  1 6,  '63  ;  disch.  from  state  service  Apr.  16, 
'63.  P.  O.  ad.,  Petoskey,  Mich.  See  2  N.  H.  V.  and 
U.  S.  C.  T. 

BARTON,  JAMES.  Co.  A;  b.  Montpelier,  Vt. ;  age  28; 
res.  Seabrook;  cred.  Seabrook;  enl.  Nov.  25,  '62;  must, 
in  Nov.  25,  '62,  as  Priv.  ;  des.  N.  f.  r.  A.  G.  O. 

BELLOWS,  JOSIAH.  Co.  C.;  b.  Concord;  age  19;  res. 
Concord;  app.  2d  Sergt.,  Co.  C;  not  must.  N.  f.  r. 
A.  G.  O. 

BATES,  SYDNEY  T.  Co.  C.;  b.  Essex,  Vt. ;  age  30;  res. 
Pelham,  cred.  Pclham  ;  enl.  Dec.  10,  '62;  must,  in  Dec. 
18,  '62,  as  Priv. ;  tr.  to  Co.  A,  2  N.  H.  V.,  Apr.  16,  '63  ; 
must,  out  Oct.  9,  '63.  See  5  Inf.  and  I  H.  Art.,  N.  H.  V. 

BEAN,  DANIEL  C.  Co.  C.;  b.  Berlin;  age  "24";  res. 
Wakefield,  cred.  Berlin;  enl.  Nov.  8,  '62  ;  must,  in  Dec. 
1 8,  '62,  as  Priv. ;  tr.  to  Co.  A,  2  N.  H.  V.,  Apr.  16,  '63  ; 
must,  out  Oct.  9,  '63.  P.  O.  ad.,  Berlin.  See  i  N.  H. 
H.  Art. 

BEAN,  FRANK.  Co.  B;  b.  Rockland,  Me.;  age  28;  res. 
Strafford,  cred.  Strafford ;  enl.  Dec.  4,  '62  ;  must,  in 
Dec.  u,  '62,  as  Priv.;  des.  N.  f.  r.  A.  G.  O. 


APPENDIX.  271 

BEAN,  LUTHER  C.  F.  and  S. ;  b.  Sanbornton;  age  41; 
res.  Lebanon,  cred.  Stratford ;  app.  Asst.  Surg.,  Nov.  4, 
'62;  must,  in  Nov.  20,  '62;  must,  out  Apr.  16,  '63. 
P.  O.  ad.,  Waukegan,  111. 

BEDELL,  AUSTIN.  Co.  A.;  b.  Jefferson;  age  18;  res.  Jef 
ferson,  cred.  Jefferson  ;  enl.  Sept.  20,  '62  ;  must,  in  Nov. 

22,  '62,  as  Priv. ;    tr.  to  Co.  F,  2  N.  H.  V.,  Apr.  16,  '63  ; 
must,  out  Oct.  9,  '63.     See  9  N.  H.  V. 

BELL,  JOHN.     Co.   B. ;    b.   Newburyport,   Mass. ;    age  29 ; 

res.    Greenland,    cred.    Greenland;    enl.    Sept.     16,    '62; 

must,  in  Nov.  13,  '62,  as  Priv.;    reported   on   roll  dated 

Apr.  10,  '63,  as  present.     N.  f.  r.  A.  G.  O. 
BELLOWS,  GEORGE  H.     F.  and   S. ;    b.  Walpole;    age  28; 

res  Walpole,   cred.   Walpole;    app.   Maj.,   Oct.   23,   '62; 

not  must. ;    paid  by  state  of  New  Hampshire  from  Oct. 

23,  '62,  to  Mar.  1 8,  '63  ;    appointment  revoked   Mar.  18, 
'63.      P.  O.  ad.,  New  York  city. 

BENNETT,  EZRA  B.  Co.  A.;  b.  Newbury,  Vt. ;  age  27; 
res.  Lancaster,  cred.  Lancaster;  enl.  Oct.  18,  '62;  must, 
in  Nov.  22,  '62,  as  Sergt. ;  must,  out  Apr.  16,  '63. 
P.  O.  ad.,  St.  Johnsbury,  Vt. 

BlNNEY,  WALTER.  Co.  C.;  b.  New  Haven,  Conn.;  age 
23;  res.  North  Hampton,  cred.  North  Hampton;  enl. 
Dec.  18,  '62;  must,  in  Dec.  18,  '62,  as  Priv.;  tr.  to 
Co.  I,  2  N.  H.  V.,  Apr.  16,  '63  ;  des.  June  25,  '63,  Ed 
ward's  Ferry,  Md. 

BLAKE,  WILLIAM.  Co.  B  ;  b.  Kittery  Point,  Me. ;  age  24  ; 
res.  North  Hampton,  cred.  North  Hampton;  enl.  Oct.  3, 
'62;  must,  in  Nov.  18,  '62,  as  Priv.;  tr.  to  Co.  K,  2 
N.  H.  V.,  Apr.,  16,  '63  ;  disch.  to  date  Oct.  9,  '63. 

BLAKELY,  ROBERT.  Co.  A;  b.  Columbia;  age  22;  res. 
Columbia,  cred.  Columbia;  enl.  Sept.  15,  '62;  must,  in 
Nov.  22,  '62,  as  Priv.;  tr.  to  Co.  F.,  2  N.  H.  V.,  Apr. 
1 6,  '63  ;  must,  out  Oct.  9,  '63.  P.  O.  ad.,  Colebrook. 
See  i  N.  H.  H.  Art. 

BLOOD,  GEORGE.  Co.  A;  b.  Whitefield;  age  33;  res. 
Whitefield,  cred.  Whitefield;  enl.  Sept.  13/62;  must, 
in  Nov.  22,  '62,  as  Corp. ;  must,  out  Apr.  16,  '63.  P.  O. 
ad.,  Lowell,  Mass. 


-7- 


APPENDIX. 


BODWELL,  GEORGE.  Co.  A;  b.  Concord;  age  22;  res. 
Concord;  enl.  Nov.  18,  '62;  must,  in  Nov.  24,  '62,  as 
Priv. ;  tr.  to  Co.  B,  2  N.  H.  V.,  Apr.  16,  '63;  des.  May 
25,  '63,  Concord;  returned  Aug.  11,  '63;  must,  out 
Oct.  9,  '63. 

BRACKETT,  JAMES  S.  Co.  A;  b.  Lancaster;  age  34;  res. 
Lancaster;  cnl.  Nov.  19,  '62,  as  Priv.;  app.  I  Lt.,  Jan. 
6,  '63;  must,  in  to  date  Nov.  22,  '62,  as  I  Lt. ;  must, 
out  Apr.  1 6,  '63.  P.  O.  ad.,  Lancaster. 

BRICKETT,  JOSEPH  W.  Co.  B ;  b.  Newburyport,  Mass. ; 
age  29;  res.  Rye,  cred.  Rye;  enl.  Oct.  14,  '62;  must, 
in  Nov.  13,  '62,  as  Priv.;  app.  Corp.;  must,  out  Apr. 
16,  '63. 

BRITTON,  JAMES.  Co.  B;  b.  Canada;  age  18;  res.  Dur 
ham,  cred.  Durham  ;  enl.  Oct.  20,  '62  ;  must,  in  Nov.  13, 
'62,  as  Priv.;  tr.  to  Co.  K,  2  N.  H.  V.,  Apr.  16,  '63  ; 
must,  out  Oct.  9,  '63.  Supposed  identical  with  James 
Britton,  U.  S.  Navy. 

BROOKS,  JAMES  E.  Co.  A;  b.  Townsend,  Mass.;  age  19; 
res.  Temple,  cred.  Temple;  enl.  Sept.  13,  '62;  must,  in 
Nov.  24,  '62,  as  Priv. ;  tr.  to  Co.  F,  2  N.  H.  V.,  Apr.  16, 
'63;  wd.  July  2,  '63,  Gettysburg,  Pa.;  disch.  Sept.  10, 
'63,  Concord,  tm.  ex.  Died  June  22,  '74. 

BROWN,  CHARLES  H.  Co.  A;  b.  Lunenburgh,  Vt. ;  age 
22;  res.  Grantham,  cred.  Dalton ;  enl.  Nov.  22,  '62  ; 
must,  in  Nov.  22,  '62,  as  Sergt. ;  must,  out  Apr.  16,  '63. 
See  i  Co.  N.  H.  H.  Art. 

BROWN,  CALVIN  S.  Co.  C;  b.  Seabrook;  age  25  ;  res.  Sea- 
brook;  enl.  Nov.  '62:  app.  Capt.  Co.  C;  not  mustered. 
See  Dartmouth  Cavalry.  P.  O.  ad.,  Washington,  D.  C. 

BROWN,  GEORGE.  Co.  A;  b.  Bangor,  Me.;  age  23;  res. 
Seabrook,  cred.  Seabrook;  enl.  Nov.  25,  '62;  must,  in 
Nov.  25,  '62,  as  Priv.;  des.  N.  f.  r.  A.  G.  O. 

BROWN,  JOHN  T.  Co.  A;  b.  Littleton;  age  34;  res. 
Ossipee ;  enl.  Nov.  20,  '62;  must,  in  Nov.  22,  '62,  as 
Priv.  ;  des.  N.  f.  r.  A.  G.  O. 

BROWN,  THOMAS.  Co.  B;  b.  Portsmouth;  age  21;  res. 
Portsmouth,  creel.  Portsmouth;  enl.  Oct.  28,  '62  ;  must. 
in  Nov.  13,  '62,  as  Priv.;  des.  N.  f.  r.  A.  G.  O. 


APPENDIX.  273 

BROWN,  WILLIAM.  Co.  C;  b.  Germany;  age  24;  res. 
Chesterfield,  cred.  Chesterfield;  enl.  Dec.  19, '62  ;  must, 
in  Dec.  30,  '62,  as  Priv. ;  des.  N.  f.  r.  A.  G.  O. 

BURDICK,  WILLIAM.  Co.  A;  b.  Clinton,  Conn;  age  23; 
res.  New  Hampshire;  enl.  Nov.  22,  '62;  must,  in  Nov. 
24,  '62,  as  Priv.;  des.  N.  f.  r.  A.  G.  O. 

BURGIN,  WALTER  S.  Co.  B;  b.  Vermont;  age  28;  res. 
Rye,  cred.  Rye;  enl.  Sept.  19,  '62;  must,  in  Nov.  13, 
'62,  as  Priv,;  tr.  to  Co.  C,  2  N.  H.  V.,  Apr.  16,  '63; 
disch.  disab.  June  10,  '63,  Concord.  P.  O.  ad.,  Wash 
ington,  Vt. 

BURNHAM,  CYRUS  E.  Co.  A;  b.  Littleton;  age  24;  res. 
Littleton,  cred.  Littleton;  enl.  Nov.  12,  '62;  must,  in 
Dec.  8,  '62,  as  Priv.;  tr.  to  Co.  F,  2  N.  H.  V.,  Apr.  16, 
'63  ;  must,  out  Oct.  9,  '63.  P.  O.  ad.,  Littleton.  See  3 
Inf.  and  i  H.  Art,  N.  H.  V. 

BUSHEE,  GEORGE  J.  Co.  C ;  b.  Salem,  Mass. ;  age  26 ; 
res.  Seabrook,  cred.  Seabrook ;  enl.  Nov.  27,  '62;  must, 
in  Dec.  29,  '62,  as  Priv.;  des.  Mar.,  '63,  Concord. 

CANNY,  JOHN  C.  Co.  B;  b.  Newburyport,  Mass.;  age  35  ; 
res.  Portsmouth,  cred.  Portsmouth;  enl.  Sept.  25,  '62; 
must,  in  Nov.  13,  '62,  as  Priv.;  tr.  to  Co.  A,  2  N.  H.  V., 
Apr.  1 6,  '63  ;  must,  out  Oct.  9,  '63. 

CASEY,  RICHARD.  Co.  A  ;  b.  Ireland  ;  age  3  I  ;  res.  Con 
cord,  cred.  Hillsborough ;  enl.  Nov.  17  ,'62;  must,  in 
Nov.  22,  '62,  as  Priv.;  tr.  to  Co.  H,  2  N.  H.  V.,  Apr. 
1 6,  '63  ;  wd.  July  2,  '63,  Gettysburg,  Pa. ;  must,  out  Oct. 
9,  '63.  P.  O.  ad.,  Concord.  See  7  N.  H.  V. 

CHADWICK,  HALE.  Co.  C;  b.  Boscawen ;  age  21;  res. 
Webster,  cred.  Webster;  enl.  Dec.  29,  '62;  must,  in 
Dec.  29,  '62,  as  Priv.;  app,  Sergt. ;  must,  out  April  16, 
'63.  P.  O.  ad.,  Penacook.  See  18  N.  H.  V. 

CHAMBERLAIN,  WILLIAM  J.  Co.  A  ;  b.  Jefferson  ;  age  18  ; 
res.  Jefferson,  cred.  Jefferson;  enl.  Oct.  I,  '62;  must,  in 
Nov.  22,  '62,  as  Corp.;  must,  out  Apr.  16,  '63.  P.  O. 
ad.,  Lancaster.  See  I  N.  H.  H.  Art. 

CHASE,  JOSEPH.  Co.  A;  b.  Pelham ;  age  29;  res.  Lancas 
ter,  cred.  Strafford ;  enl.  Nov.  19,  '62,  as  Priv.;  app. 


274 


APPENDIX. 


2  Lt.  Jan.  6,  '63  ;  must,  in  to  date  Nov.  26,  '62,  as  2  Lt. ; 
must,  out  Apr.  16,  '63.  Drowned  May  27,  '73,  in  Con 
necticut  river,  Guildhall,  Vt. 

CHASE,  SIMPSON  E.  Co.  A;  b.  Littleton;  age  37;  res. 
Lancaster,  cred.  Lancaster;  enl.  Oct.  18,  '62;  must,  in 
Nov.  22,  '62,  as  Priv. ;  app.  Corp.;  must.  out.  Apr.  16, 
'63.  Waltham,  Mass.  [Since  died.] 

CHIPMAN,  THOMAS  J.  Co.  B  ;  b.  Newburyp.ort,  Mass. ; 
age  44;  res.  Greenland;  enl.  Sept.  13,  '62;  must,  in 
Nov.  13,  '62,  as  Priv.;  tr.  to  Co.  I,  2  N.  H.  V.,  Apr.  16, 
'63  ;  clisch.  disab.  May  29,  '63,  Concord. 

CLARK,  DANIEL  M.  Co.  B;  b.  Jersey;  age  19;  res.  Ports 
mouth,  cred.  Portsmouth;  enl.  Oct.  7,  '62;  must,  in 
Nov.  13,  '62,  as  Priv.;  des.  N.  f.  r.  A.  G.  O. 

CLARK,  FRANK.  Co.  B;  b.  Suncook;  age  18;  res.  Gran- 
tham,  cred.  Grantham  ;  enl.  Nov.  20,  '62  ;  must,  in  Nov. 
20,  '62,  as  Priv. ;  tr.  to  Co.  F,  2  N.  H.  V.,  Apr.  16,  '63  ; 
to  Co.  I,  Apr.  28,  '63  ;  must,  out  Oct.  9,  '63. 

COFRAN,  KENDALL  W.  Co.  A  ;  b.  Weld,  Me.;  age  18  ;  res. 
Seabrook,  cred.  Seabrook ;  enl.  Nov.  26,  '62  ;  must,  in  Nov. 
26,  '62,  as  Priv.;  tr.  to  Co.  B,  2  N.  H.  V.,  Apr.  16,  '63; 
to  Co.  H,  May  31,  '63  ;  wd.  July  2,  '63,  Gettysburg,  Pa. 
Died,  wds.  July  30,  '63,  Philadelphia,  Pa. 

COGSWELL,  WARREN.  Co.  B;  b.  Haverhill,  Mass.;  age 
39;  res.  Portsmouth,  cred.  Portsmouth;  enl.  Sept.  19, 
'62;  must,  in  Nov.  13,  '62,  as  Priv.;  tr.  to  Co.  K,  2  .N. 
H.  V.,  Apr.  16,  '63  ;  mis.  July  2,  '63,  Gettysburg,  Pa.; 
gd.  from  mis.;  must,  out  Oct.  9,  '63. 

COOK,  THOMAS.  Co.  B;  b.  Canada;  age  42;  res.  Ports 
mouth,  cred.  Portsmouth;  enl.  Sept.  19,  '62;  must,  in 
Nov.  13,  '62,  as  Priv. ;  des.  N.  f.  r.  A.  G.  O. 

CRAM,  ALBRA  D.  Co.  A;  b.  Meredith;  age  25  ;  cred. 
Carroll ;  enl.  Nov.  29,  '62  ;  must,  in  Dec.  2,  '62,  as  Priv. ; 
tr.  to  Co.  C,  2  N.  H.  V.,  Apr.  16,  '63  ;  disch.  disab.  June 
10,  '63,  Concord. 

CRAM,  SHEPHERD  B.  Co.  A;  b.  Lancaster;  age  18; 
res.  Dalton,  cred.  Dalton  ;  enl.  Sept.  I  I , '62  ;  must,  in 
Nov.  22,  '62,  as  Priv. ;  tr.  to  Co.  F,  2  N.  H.  V.,  Apr.  16, 
'63.  Died,  dis.  Aug.  2,  '63,  Washington,  D.  C. 


APPENDIX.  275 

CUMMINGS,  EDWARD  N.     F.  and  S. ;   b.  Canaan,  Vt. ;  age 

25;    res.  Colebrook ;    app.  Q.  M.   Nov.  4,  '62;   must,   in 

Nov.  13,  '62;    must,  out  Apr.   16,  '63.      P.  O.  ad.,  Lynn, 

Mass. 
CUMMINGS,   GEORGE.      Co.   A;    b.   Leeds,  Can.;   age    18: 

cred.  Strafford  ;    enl.  Nov.  3,  '62;    must,  in  Nov.  22,  '62, 

as  Priv. ;    tr.  to  Co.  B,  2  N.  H.  V.,  Apr.  16,  '63  ;   to   Co. 

H,  May  31,  '63  ;   must,  out  Oct.  9,  '63.      P.  O.  ad.,  Lan 
caster.     See  9  N.  H.  V. 
CUNNINGHAM,  THOMAS.     Co.    A;    b.    Canada;    age    20; 

cred.    Strafford;    enl.    Nov.    17,  '62;    must,    in    Nov.   22, 

'62,  as  Priv.;    des.  Mar.,  '63,   while  on  furlough.      P.   O. 

ad.,  Lancaster. 
CUTLER,   LEWIS  W.      Co.   A;     b.    Conway;    age   25;    res. 

Conway,  cred.  Dalton  ;    enl.  Sept.  15,  '62  ;  must,  in  Nov. 

22,  '62,  as  Priv. ;    absent  without  leave.     N.  f.  r.  A.  G.  O. 

P.  O.  ad.,  Milton. 
DAVIS,  CHARLES.     Co.  B;   b.  Portland,  Me.;  age  23;  res. 

Portsmouth,  cred.  Portsmouth;    enl.  Oct.  17,   '62;    must. 

in   Nov.  13,  '62,  as  Priv.;    tr.  to  Co.  K,  2  N.  H.  V.,  Apr. 

16,  '63  ;    disch.  Feb.  28,  '64,  Pt.  Lookout,  Md. 
DAVIS,  JAMES.     Co.  A;    b.    Salem,    Mass.;    age    23;    res. 

North   Hampton,  cred.  North   Hampton;    enl.   Nov.    22, 

'62  ;    must,  in  Nov.  24,  '62,  as  Priv. ;    des.  Dec.  24,    62. 
DAVIS,  WILLIAM   H.      Co.  A;    b.  Effingham;  age  18;  res. 

Tamworth,  crea.  Tamworth ;    enl.  Dec.  I,   '62;    must,   in 

Dec.  5,  '62,  as  Priv.;    tr.  to  Co.  F,  2  N.  H.  V.,  Apr.    16, 

'63  ;    must,  out  Oct.  9,  '63. 
DENISON,  JOHN  P.     Co.    C.;    b.    Brookline,    Mass.;     age 

44;    res.    Bristol,    cred.    Lancaster;    enl.    Oct.    21,    '62; 

must,  in  Dec.  29,  '62,  as  Priv.;    app.  Com.  Sergt. ;  must. 

out  Apr.  16,  '63.     See  i  N.  H.  H.  Art. 
DERBY,  JOHN  G.      Co.    A;    b.    Lancaster;    age    32;    res. 

Lancaster,  cred.    Lancaster  ;   enl.  Sept.    2,  '62  ;    must,   in 

Nov.  22,  '62,  as  Priv.;    tr.   to  Co.  C,  as    I    Sergt.;    must. 

out  Apr.  1 6,  '63.      P.  O.  ad.,  Lancaster. 
DONALDSON,  FREDERICK  W.     Co.  A;  b.  Maine;  age  18; 

res.  Strafford,  cred.  Strafford;    enl.    Nov.  26,   '62;    must. 

in  Dec.  9,  '62,  as  Priv. ;    tr.  to  Co.  B,   2   N.    H.   V.,  Apr. 


276  APPENDIX, 

1 6,  '63  ;  to  Co.  H,  May  31,  '63  ;  wd.  July  2,  '63,  Gettys 
burg,  Pa.;  disch.  Sept.  10,  '63,  Concord,  tm.  ex.  See  I 
N.  H.  Cav. 

Dow,  WILLIAM  A.  Co.  A;  age  22;  enl.  Nov.  21,  '62; 
must,  in  Nov.  24,  '62,  as  Corp.;  must,  out  Apr.  16,  '63. 

DUSTIX,  GEORGE  A.  Co.  C;  b.  Bethel,  Me.;  age  19; 
res.  Berlin,  cred.  Berlin;  enl.  Nov.  8,  '62;  must,  in  Dec. 
18,  '62,  as  Priv. ;  tr.  to  Co.  A,  2  N.  H.  V.,  Apr.  16,  '63  ; 
must,  out  Oct.  9,  '63.  P.  O.  ad.,  Minneapolis,  Minn. 
See  14  N.  H.  V. 

DUSTIX,  JONATHAN  E.  Co.  A;  b.  Columbia;  age  26; 
res.  Columbia,  cred.  Columbia;  enl.  Sept.  15, '62;  must, 
in  Nov.  22,  '62,  as  Priv.  ;  tr.  to  Co.  F,  2  N.  H.  V.,  Apr. 
16,  '63  must,  out  Oct.  9,  '63. 

DUSTIX,  JOSEPH  H.  Co.  A;  b.  Bethel,  Me.;  age  24; 
res.  Berlin,  cred.  Colebrook  ;  enl.  Nov.  10,  '62;  must,  in 
Dec.  8,  '62,  as  Priv.;  tr.  to  Co.  G,  2  N.  H.  V.,  Apr.  16, 
'63  ;  must,  out  Oct.  9,  '63.  P.  O.  ad.,  San  Jacinto,  Cal. 
See  14  N.  H.  V. 

EMERSON,  GEORGE  H.  Co.  A;  b.  Lancaster;  age  18; 
res.  Strafford,  cred.  Strafford  ;  enl.  Sept.  3,  '62  ;  must,  in 
Nov.  22,  '62,  as  Corp.  must,  out  Apr.  16,  '63.  P.  O. 
ad.,  Lancaster. 

FARR,  AMMI.  Co.  B;  b.  Danville,  Me.;  age  28;  res. 
South  Hampton;  enl.  Nov.  7,  '62,  as  Priv.;  app.  2  Lt. 
Jan.  6,  '63  ;  must,  in  Jan.  10,  '63,  as  2  Lt. ;  must,  out 
Apr.  16/63.  See  6  N.  H.  V. 

FERNALD,  JOHN.  Co.  B ;  b.  Portsmouth ;  age  3 1  ;  res. 
Portsmouth,  cred.  Portsmouth  ;  enl.  Sept.  30,  '62  ;  must, 
in  Nov.  13,  '62,  as  Priv.;  tr.  to  Co.  K,  2  N.  H.  V.,  Apr. 
1 6,  '63  ;  disch.  to  date  Oct.  9,  '63. 

FIFE,  ELMORE  R.  Co.  B;  b.  Stow,  Me.;  age  19;  res- 
Chatham,  cred.  Chatham ;  enl.  Sept.  17,  '62;  must,  in 
Nov.  13,  '62,  as  Priv. ;  tr.  to  Co.  C,  2  N.  H.  V.,  Apr.  16, 
'63  ;  wd.  sev.  July  2,  '63,  Gettysburg,  Pa.;  disch.  to  date 
Oct.  9,  '63.  P.  O.  ad.,  Lowell,  Mass. 

FIFE,  MlCAJAH  N.  Co.  B;  b.  Chatham;  age  21;  res. 
Chatham,  cred.  Chatham;  enl.  Sept.  17,  '62;  must,  in 
Nov.  13,  '62,  as  Priv.;  tr.  to  Co.  C,  2  N.  H.  V.,  Apr.  16, 


APPENDIX.  277 

'63;    mis.  July  2,  '63,  Gettysburg,    Pa.;    gd.    from   mis.; 

disch.   Sept.    10,   '63,   Concord.    P.  O.   ad.,  North   Chat 
ham. 
FlSHER,  THOMAS   H.   Co  B;  b.  Brooklyn,   N.  Y. ;   age  22  ; 

res.  Portsmouth,    cred.    Portsmouth;   enl.   Nov.    15,   '62; 

must,  in  Nov.  15,  '62,  as  Priv. ;  des.     N.  f.  r.  A.  G.  O. 
FlTCH,   GEORGE  W.      Co.  A;  age    18;    cred.  Chichester; 

enl.  Nov.  19,  '62  ;   must,  in   Nov.   22,  '62,    as  Priv.;   fur- 

loughed  to   Feb.  8,   '63  ;  failed   to   report  on    expiration 

of  furlough,  and  was  reported  a  deserter ;   reported  Feb., 

'65,  when  it  was  decided,  upon  full  investigation  of  facts, 

that  he  was  not  an  intentional  deserter;   assigned  to  Co. 

A,  2  N.  H.  V.,  Mar.  I,  '65,   to   serve  unexpired   term   of 

enlistment;   disch.  Aug.  2,  '65,  Washington,  D.  C. 
FOLSOM,  JAMES   D.      F.  and    S. ;    b.    Wheelock,    Vt. ;   age 

34;   res.    Lancaster;   app.    Surg.    Nov.    4,    '62;   must,  in 

Nov.    20,    '62;   must,  out   Apr.    16,   '63.      P.   O.   ad.,  St. 

Johnsbury,  Vt. 
FOSTER,  BENJAMIN  F.     Co.  C.  ;  b.  Seabrook;  age  18  :  res. 

Seabrook,  cred.  Seabrook;   enl.   Nov.    10,   '62;   must,   in 

Dec.  1 8,  '62,  as    Priv.;   must,  out  Apr.  16,  '63.      See    I 

Co.,  N.  H.  H.  Art.      Since  deceased. 
FRANKLIN,  JOHN.     Co.  B;  b.  Rockaway,  N.  J.;  age  22; 

res.  New  Durham,  cred.  New  Durham  ;  enl.  Nov.  20,  '62  ; 

must,  in  Nov.  20,  '62,  as  Priv.;  des.      N.  f.  r.  A.  G.  O. 
FREELAND,  JOHN.      Co.    B;    b.    Greenland;    age    18;   res. 

Pelham,  cred.  Pelham  ;   enl.  Nov.  5,   '62;   must,   in  Nov. 

13,  '62,  as  Priv.      Died,  dis.  Jan.  16,  '63,  Concord. 
FULLER,  JOSEPH.      Co.  B  ;  b.   Cumberland,   Me.;   age  23  ; 

res.   Portsmouth,  cred.    Portsmouth;    enl.    Oct.    10,  '62; 

must,  in  Nov.  13,  '62,    as    Priv.;   app.    Corp.;   must,   out 

Apr.  16,  '63- 
GALLAGHER,  JOHN  F.     Co.  B;  b.  Paisley,  Scot.;  age  19; 

res.    Portsmouth,  cred.    Portsmouth;   enl.    Oct.    8,    '62; 

must,  in   Nov.  15,  '62,   as   Priv.;   app.   Corp,;   must,   out 

Apr.  1 6,  '63. 
GARDNER,  WILLIAM  J.     Co.  A;  b.  Benson,  Vt. ;  age  22  ; 

res.  Seabrook,  cred.  Seabrook;   enl.  Nov.  25,  '62  ;   must. 

in  Nov.  25,  '62,  as  Priv. ;  des.      N.  f.  r.  A.  G.  O. 


278  APPENDIX. 

GOVE,  HlRAM.  Co.  B;  b.  Portsmouth;  age  21  ;  res. 
Portsmouth,  cred.  Portsmouth;  enl.  Sept.  22,  '62;  must, 
in  Nov.  21,  '62,  as  Priv  ;  tr.  to  Co.  K,  2  N.  H.  V.,  Apr. 
1 6,  '63  ;  disch.  to  date  Oct.  9,  63.  See  State  Service. 

GOVE,  IRA  S.  M.  F.  and  S. ;  b.  Whitefield  ;  age  38;  res. 
Lancaster;  app.  Acting  Commissary  Nov.  4,  '62;  not 
must. ;  paid  by  State  of  New  Hampshire  from  Nov.  20, 
'62,  to  Apr.  16,  '63,  as  Lt. ;  disch.  from  state  service 
Apr.  1 6,  '63.  Died  Mar.  24,  '94,  Whitefield. 

GRANT,  CHARLES  A.  Co.  B ;  b.  South  Berwick,  Me. ;  age 
29 ;  res.  Portsmouth,  cred.  Portsmouth;  enl.  Sept.  22, 
'62;  must,  in  Nov.  13,  '62,  as  Sergt. ;  must,  out  Apr.  16, 

•63. 

GRAY,  CLARENCE  S.     Co.  B;  b.  Portsmouth;  age  23;  res. 

Portsmouth,  cred.   Portsmouth;  enl.  Sept.  16,  '62;  must. 

in  Nov.    13,  '62,  as    I    Sergt.;    must,   out  Apr.    16,    '63. 

P.   O.   ad.,   Kingston.     See  2   Inf.  and  I  Co.  H.  Art,  N. 

H.  V.,  and  State  Service. 
HADLOCK,  HEZEKIAH   E.     Co.  A;  b.  Guildhall,  Vt. ;   age 

19;    res.    Strafford,    cred.    Strafford ;    enl.    Oct.    22,  '62  ; 

must,  in  Nov.  22,  '62,  as  Corp. ;  must,  out  Apr.  16,  '63.  P. 

O.  ad.,  Lancaster.      See  I  Co.,  N.  H.  H.  Art. 
HALEY,  JAMES.      Co.  B;    b.  Vermont;    age   25;    res.   Gos- 

port ;  enl.  Sept.  17,  '62;  must,  in  Nov.  13,  '62,  as  Priv.; 

tr.  to  Co.  K,  2  N.  H.  V.,  Apr.    16,   '63  ;    must,   out  Oct. 

9>  '63- 
HALEY,  WILLIAM.     Co.  B;  b.  Charleston,  S.   C. ;  age  18; 

enl.  Nov.  30,  '62,  at  Bow;  must,  in  Dec.  5,  '62,  as  Priv.; 

des.     N.  f.  r.  A.  G.  O. 
HAM,  GEORGE  H.     Co.   B;    b.   Portsmouth;    age    31  ;  res. 

Greenland,   cred.   Greenland;  enl.   Oct.   3,   '62;   must,  in 

Nov.  13,  '62,   as  Sergt.;    must,   out  Apr.    16,   '63.      See 

State  Service.      [Since  died  ] 
HAM,  JOSEPH    O.      Co.   B;    b.    Portsmouth;    age    26;    res. 

Portsmouth,  cred.  Portsmouth;  enl.  Sept.   8,   '62;    must. 

in  Dec.  2,  '62,  as  Corp.;  must,  out  Apr.  16,  '63.      P.   O. 

ad.,  Portsmouth. 
HAMMOND,  EDGAR.     Co.  A;   b.  Effingham;  age  20;    res. 

Tamworth,  cred.  Tamworth  ;  enl.  Nov.  17,  '62;  must,   in 


APPENDIX. 


279 


Nov.  22,  '62,  as  Priv. ;    tr.  to    Co.   F,   2    N.  H.  V.,  Apr. 
16,  '63  ;  killed  July  2,  '63,  Gettysburg,  Pa. 

HANSON,  CHARLES.  Co.  C  ;  b.  Alton ;  age  22  ;  res.  Pel- 
ham,  cred.  Pelham  ;  enl.  Dec.  22,  '62;  must,  in  Dec.  23, 
'62,  as  Priv.  ;  des.  N.  f.  r.  A.  G.  O. 

HARIMAN,  ALVIN.  Co.  B;  b.  Eaton;  age  23  ;  res.  Bidde- 
ford,  Me.,  cred.  North  Hampton;  enl.  Oct.  6,  '62;  must, 
in  Nov.  13,  '62,  as  Corp.;  must,  out  Apr.  16,  '63.  P.  O. 
ad.,  Biddeford,  Me. 

HARRIMAN,  MOSES.  Co.  B;  b.  Chatham;  age  30;  res. 
Chatham,  cred.  Chatham;  enl.  Sept.  19,  '62;  must,  in 
Nov.  13,  '62,  as  Priv.  ;  tr.  to  Co.  C,  2  N.  H.  V.,  Apr.  16, 
'63;  disch.  disab.  May  25,  '63,  Concord.  P.  O.  ad., 
Haverhill,  Mass. 

HARROLD,  CHRISTOPHER  W.  Co.  B  ;  b.  Portsmouth  ;  age 
31;  res.  Portsmouth,  cred.  Portsmouth;  enl.  Sept.  10, 
'62;  must,  in  Nov.  13,  '62,  as  Sergt. ;  must,  out  Apr.  16, 
'63.  See  I  Co.,  N.  H.  H.  Art.,  and  Miscel.  Organiza 
tions.  P.  O.  ad.,  Washington,  D.  C. 

HAWKES,  HARRISON  F.  Co.  A;  b.  Foxborough,  Mass.; 
age  16;  res.  Claremont,  cred.  Walpole ;  enl.  Dec.  I ,  '62  ; 
must,  in  Dec.  5,  '62,  as  Muse.;  tr.  to  Co.  I,  2  N.  H.  V., 
Apr.  16,  '63;  disch.  to  date  Oct.  9,  '63.  P.  O.  ad., 
Claremont. 

HEATH,  ORIN.  Co.  B  ;  b.  Conway  ;  age  34  ;  res.  Chatham  ; 
cred.  Chatham ;  enl.  Sept.  17,  '62;  must,  in  Nov.  13, 
'62,  as  Priv.;  tr.  to  Co.  C,  2  N.  H.  V.,  Apr.  16,  '63  ;  wd. 
sev.  July  2,  '63,  Gettysburg,  Pa.;  must,  out  Oct.  9,  '63. 
P.  O.  ad.,  Chatham. 

HlCKS,  ROYAL.  Co.  A;  b.  Jefferson;  age  33  ;  res.  White- 
field,  cred.  Whitefield  ;  enl.  Sept.  15,  '62;  must,  in  Nov. 
22,  '62,  as  Priv. ;  tr.  to  Co.  F,  2  N.  H.  V.,  April  16,  '63  ; 
disch.  disab.  June  23,  '63,  Concord.  See  I  N.  H.  H. 
Art.  Deceased. 

HODGDON,  RUFUS  E.  Co.  A ;  b.  Shelburne  ;  age  20  ;  res. 
Shelburne,  cred.  Shelburne  ;  enl.  Sept.  8,  '62  ;  must,  in 
Nov.  22,  '62,  as  Priv.;  tr.  to  Co.  F,  2  N.  H.  V.,  Apr.  16, 
'63.  Died,  dis.  July  29,  '63,  Harper's  Ferry,  Va. 


280  APPENDIX. 

HODGDON,  TIMOTHY  E.  Co.  B  ;  b.  Newington  ;  age  44  ; 
res.  Rye,  cred.  Rye;  enl.  Sept.  29,  '62  ;  must,  in  Dec.  3, 
'62,  as  Wagoner;  tr.  to  Co.  I.  2  N.  H.  V.,  Apr.  16.  '63  ; 
must,  out  Oct.  9,  '63. 

HOLMES,  ANDREW  J.     Co.  B.     See  16  N.  H.  V. 

HOLT,  SAMUEL  P.  Co.  B;  b.  Bath,  Me.;  age  22;  res. 
North  Hampton ;  cred.  North  Hampton ;  enl.  Oct.  6, 
'62;  must,  in  Nov.  13,  '62,  as  Sergt. ;  must,  out  Apr. 
16,  '63.  P.  O.  ad.,  Boston,  Mass.  See  i  Co.,  N.  H.  H. 
Art. 

HOYT,  CHARLES  W.  Co.  C;  b.  Kingston;  age  18;  res. 
Candia;  cred.  Candia  ;  enl.  Dec.  13,  '62;  must,  in  Dec. 
19,  '62,  as  Priv. ;  tr.  to  Co.  G,  2  N.  H.  V.,  Apr.  16/63  I 
des.  May  25,  '63,  Concord;  appreh.  June  25,  '63,  Con 
cord.  Died  Aug.  14,  '63,  Pt.  Lookout,  Md. 

HUBBARD,  DELAY  AN  G.  Co.  A;  b.  Gorham ;  age  21; 
res.  Shelburne,  cred.  Shelburne  ;  enl.  Sept.  8,  '62  ;  must, 
in  Nov.  22,  '62,  as  Priv.;  tr.  to  Co.  F,  2  N.  H.  V.,  Apr. 
16,  '63;  disch.  disab.  May  6,  '63,  Concord.  P.  O.  ad., 
Shelburne. 

HUBBARD,  GEORGE  F.  L.,  alias  Leland  Hubbard.  Co.  A; 
b.  Gorham;  age  16;  res.  Strafforcl,  cred.  Strafford  ;  enl. 
Sept.  10,  '62;  must,  in  Nov.  22,  '62,  as  Priv.  Died,  dis. 
Dec.  25,  '62,  Concord. 

HYDE,  THOMAS  C.  Co.  B  ;  b.  Ireland  ;  age  18  ;  res.  Wai- 
pole,  cred.  Walpole  ;  enl.  Nov.  26,  '62  ;  must,  in  Dec.  5, 
'62,  as  Priv.;  tr.  to  Co.  B,  2  N.  H.  V.,  Apr.  16,  '63  ;  to 
Co.  A,  May  31,  '63  ;  must,  out  Oct.  9,  '63. 

INGALLS,  WILLIAM  B.  Co.  A;  b.  Shelburne;  age  21; 
res.  Shelburne,  cred.  Shelburne;  enl.  Sept.  8,  '62  ;  must, 
in  Nov.  22,  '62,  as  Sergt. ;  tr.  to  Co.  I,  2  N.  H.  V.,  Apr. 
16,  '63,  as  Priv.  Died,  dis.  July  24,  '63,  Frederick,  Md. 

JACKMAN,  LEYI  W.  Co.  A;  b.  Shelburne;  age  19;  res. 
Shelburne,  cred.  Shelburne;  enl.  Sept.  8,  '62;  must,  in 
Nov.  22,  '62,  as  Priv.  ;  tr.  to  Co.  F,  2  N.  H.  V.,  Apr.  16, 
'63;  disch.  Oct.  22,  '63,  to  date  Oct.  9,  '63,  Concord, 
tm.  ex. ;  killed  Jan.  20,  '77,  on  Grand  Trunk  Railroad. 

JACKSON,  ALFRED  S.  Co.  A;  b.  Shelburne;  age  18; 
res.  Lancaster,  cred.  Lancaster;  enl.  Nov.  17,  '62  ;  must. 


APPENDIX.  28l 

in  Nov.  22,  '62,  as  Priv. ;  tr.  to  Co.  B,  2  N.  H.  V.,  Apr. 
16/63;  to  Co.  H,  May  31, '63  ;  wd.  July  2, '63,  Gettys 
burg,  Pa.;  disch.  Sept.  10,  '63,  Concord.  P.  O.  ad., 
Waltham,  Mass. 

JACKSON,  GEORGE  A.  Co.  C;  b.  Keene;  age  21;  res. 
Windham,  cred.  Windham ;  enl.  Dec.  27,  '62;  must,  in 
Dec.  30,  '62,  as  Priv. ;  tr.  to  Co.  C,  2  N.  H.  V.,  Apr.  16, 
'63  ;  must,  out  Oct.  9,  '63. 

JACKSON,  WILLARD  A.  Co.  A;  b.  Portland,  Me.;  age 
27;  res.  Lancaster,  cred.  Lancaster;  enl.  Nov.  17,  '62; 
must,  in  Nov.  22,  '62,  as  Priv.;  tr.  to  Co.  I,  2  N.  H.  V., 
Apr.  16,  '63  ;  disch.  disab.  May  16,  '63,  Concord.  P.  O. 
ad.,  Nashua. 

JENNESS,  ISAAC  F.  Co.  B;  b.  Rochester;  age  26;  res. 
Portsmouth,  cred.  Portsmouth  ;  enl.  Nov.  7,  '62,  as  Priv. ; 
app.  Capt.  Dec.  30,  '62  ;  must,  in  to  date  Dec.  2,  '62,  as 
Capt. ;  must,  out  Apr.  16,  '63.  P.  O.  ad.,  Newington. 

JENNESS,  JOHN  C.  Co.  A;  b.  Newport,  Vt. ;  age  20;  res. 
Lancaster,  cred.  Lancaster;  enl.  Nov.  25,  '62;  must,  in 
Nov.  25/62,  as  Priv.;  app.  Q.  M.  Sergt. ;  must,  out 
Apr.  16,  '63.  See  I  N.  H.  H.  Art,  Miscel.  Organiza 
tions,  and  State  Service. 

JORDAN,  FRANK  A.  Co.  C ;  b.  Plainfield ;  age  22  ;  res. 
Bristol;  enl.  Dec.  16,  '62;  must,  in  Dec.  18/62,  as 
Priv.;  des.  N.  f.  r.  A.  G.  O. 

KENT,  CHARLES  N.  Co.  C;  b.  Lancaster;  age  19;  res. 
Lancaster;  app.  I  Lt.  Dec.  I,  '62;  not  must.;  paid  by 
State  of  New  Hampshire  from  Dec.  i,  '62,  to  Apr.  16, 
'63  ;  disch.  from  state  service  Apr.  16,  '63.  P.  O.  ad., 
Merrick,  N.  Y. 

KENT,  HENRY  O.  F.  and  S. ;  b.  Lancaster;  age  28;  res. 
Lancaster;  app.  Col.  Oct.  23,  '62  ;  must,  in  to  date  Oct. 
23,  '62  ;  must,  out  to  date  Apr.  16,  '63.  Rank  and  ser 
vice  recognized  by  Act  of  Congress  approved  July  21, 
'92.  P.  O.  ad.,  Lancaster.  See  State  Service. 

KlLEY,  JOSEPH.     Co.  A;   b.  Canada;   age  36 ;   res.  White- 
field,  cred.  Whiteneld;    enl.  Oct.  27,  '62;    must,  in  Nov. 
22,  '62,  as  Priv. ;   tr.  to  Co.  F,  2  N.  H.  V.,  Apr.  16,  '63  ; 
killed  July  2,  '63,  Gettysburg,  Pa. 
19 


282  APPENDIX. 

KlMBALL,  CHARLES   H.     Co.  B;   b.  Kittery,  Me.;    age  32  ; 

res.  Portsmouth,   cred.   Portsmouth;    enl.   Sept.  23,   62  ; 

must,  in  Nov.  13,  '62,  as  Priv. ;    tr.  to  Co.  K.  2  N.  H.  V., 

Apr.  16,  '63  ;    must,  out  Oct.  9,  '63.     Died  Sept.  2,  '83. 
KlNDEN,   PATRICK  J.      Co.    B;     b.  Ireland;     age   25;    res. 

North  Hampton,  cred.  North  Hampton  ;    eni.  Oct.  6,  '62  ; 

must,  in  Nov.  13,  '62,  as  Muse. ;    reported  present  on  roll 

dated  Apr.  10,  '63.     N.  f.  r.  A.  G.  O. 

KING,  ASA  J.     Co.  A;    b.  Jefferson;   age   18;    res.  Jeffer 
son,  cred.  Jefferson  ;    cnl.  Oct.  18,  '62  ;    must,  in  Nov.  22, 

'62,   as   Priv.;    tr.  to  Co.  F,  2    N.   H.  V.,  Apr.    16/63; 

disch.   Sept.  10,  '63,  Concord,  tm.  ex.      P.  O.  ad.,  Lan 
caster. 
KING,  CHARLES  E.     Co.  A;   b.  Whitefield  ;   age  28;    res. 

Whitefield,  cred.  Whitefield  ;    enl.   Sept.  8,  '62  ;    must,  in 

Nov.  22,  '62,  as    i    Sergt. ;    must,    out  Apr.   16/63.      P. 

O.   ad.,  Whitefield. 
KING,  ROBERT.     Co.  A  ;   b.  St.  John,  N.  B. ;   age  19;   res. 

Atkinson,  cred.   Atkinson;    enl.    Nov.    28,  '62;    must,  in 

Dec.  10,  '62,  as   Priv.;    app.  Corp.  Dec.    10,  '62;    must. 

out  Apr.    16,   '63. 
LAMBERT,    JOHN    H.      Co.    B;     b.    Portsmouth;    age    19, 

cred.  Portsmouth;    enl.  Nov.  13,  '62,  as  Priv.;    tr.  to  Co. 

E,  2   N.  H.   V.,  Apr.    16,  '63;  must,    out   Oct.    19,   '63. 

Died  Oct.  22,  '84,  Biddeford,  Me. 
LANG,  LOWELL    Y.     Co.    B;   b.   Pittsfield ;     age  45;     res. 

Greenland,  cred.   Greenland;    enl.   Sept.    16,   '62;    must. 

in  Nov.    13,  '62,  as  Priv.;    tr.  to  Co.  I,  2  N.  H.  V.,  Apr. 

26,  '63;    disch.  disab.  May  29,  '63,  Concord. 
LARKIN,  CHARLES  A.     Co.  A;   b.  Holliston,  Mass.;  age 

32;    res.  Lancaster,  cred.   Lancaster;    enl.   Oct.    18/62; 

must,  in  Nov.  22,  '62,  as  Sergt.;    must,  out  Apr.  16,  '63. 

P.  O.  ad.,  Wichita,  Kan. 
LAWRENCE,  CHARLES  F.     Co.   A;   b.   Rutland,  Vt. ;   age 

28;    res.  Seabrook,  cred.  Seabrook  ;    enl.   Nov.  25,  '62; 

must,  in  Nov.  25/62,  as  Priv.;    des.     N.  f.  r.  A.  G.  O. 
LEWIS,   CORNELIUS.      Co.  A;    b.   Cork,    Ir. ;    age  40;    res. 

Concord,  creel.   Hillsborough  ;    enl.   Nov.  21,   '62;    must. 

in  Nov.  22,  '62,  as  Priv.;    tr.  to   Co.  I,  2  N.  H.  V.,  Apr. 


APPENDIX.  283 

16,  '63;    disch.  disab.  May  16,  '63,  Concord.      P.  O.  ad., 

Concord.      See  Miscel.  Organizations. 
LlNDSEY,  NELSON  B.     Co.  A;    b.  Canada;    age  37;   cred. 

Strafford ;     enl.    Dec.   2,  '62,     must,   in   Dec.    5,   '62,  as 

Priv. ;   des.  Dec.  6,  '62,  Concord.      See  3  N.  H.  V. 
LONG,  CHARLES   H.      F.  and   S. ;    b.  Claremont;    age   29; 

res.   Claremont;    app.  Lt.   Col.  Oct.  23,  '62  ;    not  must. ; 

paid  by  State   of  New  Hampshire   from   Nov.  I,    '62,  to 

Apr.  1 6,  '63  ;    disch.  from  state  service  Apr.  16,  '63.      P. 

O.  ad.,  Claremont.      See  5  Inf.  and  I   Co.  H.  Art.,  N.  H. 

V. 

LOUDON,  JOHN.      Co.  A  ;    b.  Belfast,  Ir. ;    age  22  ;    res.  Sea- 
brook,  cred.  Seabrook ;    enl.  Nov.  25,  '62  ;    must,  in  Nov. 

25,  '62,  as  Priv.;    des.     N.  f.  r.  A.  G.  O. 
LOVEJOY,   HENRY  H.     Co.  A;    b.  Littleton;    age  26;    res. 

Littleton,   cred.   Littleton;     enl.   Nov.    12,  '62;    must,   in 

Dec.  8,  '62,  as  Priv.;    tr.  to  Co.  F,  2   N.  H.  V.,  Apr.  16, 

'63  ;    must,  out  Oct.  9,  '63.      P.  O.  acl.,  Littleton. 
LUCAS,   HARVEY  H.     Co.  A;   b.  Lancaster;   age  30;   res. 

Lancaster,    cred.   Lancaster;    enl.    Oct.   6,  '62;   must,    in 

Nov.  22,  '62,  as  Wagoner;  tr.  to  Co.  F,  2  N.  H.  V.  Apr. 

16,  '63,  as   Priv.;   mis.  July  2,  '63,   Gettysburg,  Pa.;   gd. 

from  mis. ;   must,  out  Oct.  9,  '63.      P.  O.  ad.,  Canaan,  Vt. 

See  9  N.  H.  V. 

MCCARTY,   HENRY.      Co.  A;  b.    Bow;   age   27;   res.  Salis 
bury,  cred.    Salisbury;    enl.  Nov.   20,  '62 ;   must,  in  Nov. 

22,  '62,  as  Priv.;  des.     N.  f.  r.  A.  G.  O. 
MCDONALD,  CHARLES.     Co.  B;   b.   Ireland;   age   22;    res. 

Strafford,  cred.  Strafford;   enl.  Dec.  4,  '62;   must,  in  Dec. 

II,  '62,  as  Priv. ;  des.      N.  f.  r.  A.  G.  O. 
McQUEENY,  MICHAEL.      Co.  B.      See  Michael  McQuney. 
McQuNEY,   MICHAEL.     Co.    B ;    b.   St.  Albans,  Vt. ;     age 

28;    res.   North    Hampton,  cred.   North   Hampton;    enl. 

Oct.  7,  '62;    must,   in   Nov.    13,   '62,  as  Priv.;    tr.  to  Co. 

E,  2  N.  H.  V.,  Apr.  16,  '63  ;    must,  out  Oct.  9,  '63. 
MlDGLEY,  JOSEPH.     Co.  B  ;  b.  South  Andover,  Mass. ;  age 

18;    cred.  Portsmouth;  enl.  Nov.   3,  '62;    must,  in   Nov. 

13,  '62,  as  Priv.;    reported  on  roll  dated  Apr.  10,  '63,  as 

absent  with  leave.     N.  f.  r.  A.  G.  O. 


284 


APPENDIX. 


MITCHELL,  FRANK.     Co.   C;    b.   Concord;   age    18;   res. 

North   Hampton,  cred.   North    Hampton ;    enl.    Dec.   9, 

'6-2;    must,  in  Dec.  18,  '62,  as   Priv. ;   tr.   to  Co.  B,  2  N. 

H.  V.,  Apr.   1 6,  '63  ;   to  Co.    I,   May  31,  '63  ;    must,  out 

Oct.  9,  '63.     Died  June  14,  '79. 
MITCHELL,  THOMAS.     Co.   B;    b.   Kittery,  Me.;   age  35; 

res.  Portsmouth,    cred.  Portsmouth ;    enl.   Sept.  29,   '62  ; 

must,  in  Nov.  13,  '62,  as  Priv.;  tr.  to  Co.  K,  2  N.  H.  V., 

Apr.  1 6,  '63  ;    must,  out  Oct.  9,  '63. 

MOODY,  THOMAS  P.  Co.  A;  b.  Claremont;  age  41  ;  res. 
Lancaster,  cred.  Lancaster;  enl.  Sept.  i,  '62;  must,  in 
Nov.  22,  '62,  as  Corp.;  must,  out  Apr.  16,  '63.  Died 
Mar.  31,  '84,  Lancaster. 

MOORE,  JOHN  C.  Co.  A;  b.  Dalton;  age  18;  res.  Lan 
caster,  cred.  Lancaster;  enl.  Nov.  19,  '62;  must,  in  Nov. 
22,  '62,  as  Priv.;  tr.  to  Co.  F,  2  N.  H.  V.,  Apr.  16,  '63; 
wd.  July  2,  '63,  Gettysburg,  Pa.  Died  wds.  July  27,  '63, 
Baltimore,  Md. 

MOORE,  PERRY  C.  Co.  B  ;  b.  Buxton,  Me. ;  age  25  ;  cred. 
New  Hampton ;  enl.  Oct.  13,  '62;  must,  in  Nov.  13/62, 
as  Corp.;  must,  out  Apr.  16,  '63,  Concord.  P.  O.  ad., 
Kittery,  Me.  See  I  Co.,  N.  H.  H.  Art. 

MORGAN,  EDMUND  R.  Co.  A;  b.  Bow;  age  21;  res. 
New  Hampshire,  cred.  Bow;  enl.  Nov.  24,  '62  ;  must,  in 
Nov.  24,  '62,  as  Priv.;  des.  N.  f.  r.  A.  G.  O. 

MORGAN,  MANLEY  W.  Co.  B;  b.  Bow;  age  19;  res. 
Grantham,  cred.  Bow;  enl.  Nov.  20,  '62;  must,  in  Nov. 
20,  '62,  as  Priv.;  des.  Apr.  i,  '63,  Concord;  reported  in 
'65,  under  President's  Proclamation;  disch.  May  5,  '65, 
Concord. 

MORSE,  CHARLES  E.  Co.  B;  b.  Haverhill,  Mass.;  age 
32;  res.  Portsmouth,  cred.  Portsmouth;  enl.  Sept.  16, 
'62;  must,  in  Nov.  15,  '62,  as  Priv.;  tr.  to  Co.  K,  2  N. 
H.  V.,  Apr.  16,  '63  ;  must,  out  Oct.  9,  '63. 

MORSE,  HENRY  P.  Co.  B;  b.  Bradford,  Mass.;  age  32; 
cred.  Greenland;  enl.  Sept.  13,  '62;  must,  in  Nov.  13, 
'62,  as  Corp.;  must,  out  Apr.  16,  '63. 

MOULTON,  CHARLES  W.  Co.  A  ;  b.  Randolph  ;  age  30  ; 
res.  Whitefield,  cred.  Whitefield;  enl.  Sept.  13,  '62; 


APPENDIX.  285 

must,  in  Nov.  22,  '62,  as  Priv. ;  tr.  to  Co.  F,  2  N.  H.  V., 
Apr.  16,  '63;  must,  out  Oct.  9/63.  P.  O.  ad.,  Jeffer 
son. 

NEWELL,  JOHN  M.  Co.  A;  b.  Shelburne;  age  24;  res. 
Shelburne,  cred.  Shelburne;  enl.  Sept.  8,  '62  ;  must,  in 
Nov.  22,  '62,  as  Priv.;  tr.  to  Co.  F,  2  N.  H.  V.,  Apr.  16, 
'63  ;  must,  out  Oct.  9,  '63.  P.  O.  ad.,  Gilead,  Me. 

NICHOLSON,  NATHANIEL  E.  Co.  B;  b.  Conway;  age  33  ; 
res.  Bartlett,  cred.  Bartlett ;  enl.  Nov.  12,  '62;  must,  in 
Nov.  17,  '62,  as  Priv.;  des.  Concord;  appreh.  Dec.  9, 
'63  ;  tr.  to  Co.  G,  3  N.  H.  V.,  Jan.  20,  '64,  to  serve 
unexpired  term  of  enlistment;  re-enl.  Mar.,  '64;  wd. 
May  16,  '64,  Drewry's  Bluff,  Va. ;  disch.  wds.  Aug.  8, 
'65,  Concord.  P.  O.  ad.,  Centre  Bartlett. 

NORTON,  HENRY.  Co.  A;  b.  New  York;  age  32;  res. 
Strafford,  cred.  Strafford ;  enl.  Oct.  19,  '62;  must,  in 
Dec.  9,  '62,  as  Priv.;  tr.  to  Co.  F,  2  N.  H.  V.,  Apr.  16, 
'63  ;  disch.  Sept.  10,  '63,  tm.  ex. 

PAGE,  WILLIAM  C.  D.  Co.  B;  b.  Newburyport,  Mass.; 
age  44;  res.  Greenland,  cred.  Greenland;  enl.  Sept.  16, 
''62;  must,  in  Nov.  13,  '62,'  as  Priv.;  tr.  to  Co.  I,  2  N. 
H.  V.,  Apr.  16,  '63  ;  disch.  disab.  May  29,  '63,  Concord. 

PEASLEE,  SIDNEY  H.  Co.  A ;  b.  Colebrook ;  age  26 ; 
cred.  Lancaster;  enl.  Nov.  8,  '62  ;  must,  in  Nov.  22,  '62, 
as  Priv. ;  app.  Corp;  must,  out  Apr.  16,  '63.  Died 
Feb.  20,  '88,  Boston,  Mass. 

PERKINS,  JAMES  W.  Co.  C;  b.  Hampton;  age  27;  res. 
Hampton,  cred.  Hampton;  enl.  Dec,  u,  '62;  must,  in 
Dec.  18,  '62,  as  Priv.;  app.  Sergt.  Maj.;  must,  out  Apr. 
16,  '63.  P.  O.  ad.,  Gorham. 

PERKINS,  JOHN  S.  Co.  B;  b.  Gilmanton ;  age  18;  res. 
Portsmouth,  cred.  Portsmouth;  enl.  Oct.  27,  '62;  must, 
in  Nov.  13,  '62,  as  Priv.;  des.  N.  f.  r.  A.  G.  O. 

PERKINS,  JOSIAH  W.  Co.  A;  b.  Litchfield,  Me. :  age  26; 
res.  Strafford,  cred.  Strafford;  enl.  Nov.  1 1,  '62  ;  must,  in 
Nov.  22,  '62,  as  Priv.;  tr.  to  Co.  I,  2  N.  H.  V.,  Apr.  16, 
'63  ;  must,  out  Oct.  9,  '63. 

PERKINS,  SUMNER.  Co.  A;  b.  Berlin;  age  18;  res.  Lan 
caster,  cred.  Lancaster;  enl.  Nov.  3,  '62;  must,  in  Nov. 


286  APPENDIX. 

22,  '62,  as  Priv. ;  tr.  to  Co.  F,  2  N.  H.  V.,  Apr.  16,  '63  ; 
wd.  sev.  July  2,  '63,  Gettysburg,  Pa.;  disch.  to  date  Oct. 
9,  '63.  P.  O.  ad.,  Greenfield,  Mass.  See  V.  R.  C. 

PICKERING,  EBENEZER  S.  Co.  B;  b.  Laconia;  age  35; 
res.  Chatham,  cred.  Chatham;  enl.  Sept.  18,  '62;  must, 
in  Nov.  13,  '62,  as  Priv. ;  tr.  to  Co.  C,  2  N.  H.  V.,  Apr. 
16,  '63  ;  des.  Aug.  4,  '63. 

POOR,  JOSEPH.  Co.  B;  b.  Newburyport,  Mass.;  age  44; 
res.  Greenland,  cred.  Greenland;  enl.  Sept.  22,  '62: 
must,  in  Nov.  13,  '62,  as  Priv.;  tr.  to  Co.  K,  2  N.  H. 
V.,  Apr.  16,  '63;  to  Co.  A:  must,  out  Oct.  9,  '63.  See 
2  N.  H.  V. 

PRATT,  ALFRED  C.  Co.  A ;  b.  Hebron,  Me. ;  age  44 ; 
res.  Jefferson,  cred.  Jefferson;  enl.  Oct.  I,  '62;  must,  in 
Nov.  22,  '62,  as  Priv. ;  tr.  to  Co.  H,  2  N.  H.  V.,  Apr.  16, 
'63  ;  disch.  disab.  June  9,  '63,  Concord.  P.  O.  ad.,  Lan 
caster.  See  9  N.  H.  V. 

PRATT,  CHARLES.  Co.  A;  b.  Bangor,  Me.;  age  18;  res. 
Seabrook,  cred.  Seabrook ;  enl.  Nov.  25,  '62;  must,  in 
Nov.  25,  '62,  as  Priv.;  des.  N.  f.  r.  A.  G.  O. 

PUTNAM,  WILLIAM  C.  Co.  A ;  b.  Lunenburg,  Vt. ;  age 
18;  res.  Grantham,  cred.  Grantham;  enl.  Nov.  22,  '62, 
must,  in  Nov.  22,  '62,  as  Priv.  ;  tr.  to  Co.  A,  2  N.  H.  V., 
Apr.  1 6,  '63  ;  must,  out  Oct.  9,  '63.  P.  O.  ad.,  Lancas 
ter. 

QUARTER,  MOSES.  Co.  A;  b.  Canada;  age  3  i  ;  res.  Sea- 
brook,  cred.  Seabrook;  enl.  Nov.  26,  '62  ;  must,  in  Nov. 
26,  '62,  as  Priv.;  absent  without  leave.  N.  f.  r.  A.  G.  O. 

RAFFERTY,  FRANK,  JR.  Co.  A;  b.  Eaton,  Can.;  age  21  ; 
res.  Wolfeborough,  creel.  Walpole ;  enl.  Nov.  12,  '62; 
must,  in  Nov.  22,  '62,  as  Priv.;  app.  Corp.  Nov.  22,  '62; 
must,  out  Apr.  16,  '63.  P.  O.  ad.,  Claremont. 

RAND,  AMMI  C.  Co.  B;  b.  Portsmouth;  age  19;  res. 
Portsmouth,  cred.  Portsmouth  ;  enl.  Oct.  13,  '62;  must, 
in  Nov.  13,  '62,  as  Priv.;  tr.  to  Co.  A,  2  N.  H.  V.,  Apr. 
1 6,  '63  ;  must,  out  Oct  9,  '63. 

RAND,  JAMES  C.  Co.  C;  b.  Concord;  age  19;  res. 
North  Hampton,  cred.  North  Hampton  ;  enl.  Dec.  9,  '62  ; 
must,  in  Dec.  18,  '62,  as  Priv.;  tr.  to  Co.  B,  2  N.  H.  V., 


APPENDIX.  287 

Apr.  1 6,  '63  ;  to  Co.  I,  May  31,  '63  ;  must,  out  Oct.  9, 
'63.  Supposed  identical  with  James  C.  Rand,  Co.  I,  6 
N.  H.  V. 

RAND,  LOUIS  H.  Co.  B;  b.  Newcastle;  age  26;  res. 
Portsmouth,  cred.  Portsmouth;  cnl.  Sept.  16,  '62  ;  must, 
in  Nov.  13,  '62,  as  Corp.;  des.  N.  f.  r.  A.  G.  O.  Sec 
State  Service. 

RAYMOND,  ROBERT.  Co.  B;  b.  Lowell,  Mass.;  age  21; 
res.  Strafford,  cred.  Strafforcl ;  cnl.  Dec.  4,  '62  ;  must,  in 
Dec.  11,  '62,  as  Priv.;  des.  N.  f.  r.  A.  G.  O. 

REED,  JAMES.  Co.  A;  b.  Colebrook;  age  21;  res.  Co 
lumbia,  cred.  Columbia;  enl.  Sept.  15,  '62;  must,  in 
Nov.  22,  '62,  as  Priv.;  des.  N.  f.  r.  A.  G.  O.  P.  O. 
ad.,  Columbia. 

REED,  THOMAS.  Co.  A  ;  b.  Sheffield,  Eng. ;  age  23  ;  res. 
Pelham,  cred.  Pelham  ;  enl.  Nov.  26,  '62  ;  must,  in  Dec. 
5,  '62,  as  Priv.;  des.  N.  f.  r.  A.  G.  O. 

REMICK,  HENRY.  Co.  B;  b.  Eliot,  Me.;  age  19;  res. 
North  Hampton,  cred.  North  Hampton;  enl.  Oct.  3, 
'62;  must,  in  Nov.  13,  '62,  as  Priv.;  tr.  to  Co.  K,  2 
N.  H.  V.,  Apr.  16,  '63;  must,  out  Oct.  9,  '63.  Died, 
dis.  Nov.  28,  '64,  in  Confederate  prison,  Salisbury,  N. 
C.,  while  member  of  Co.  F,  31  Me.  Inf. 

RlNES,  EBENEZER.  Co.  A;  b.  Milton;  age  43;  res.  Jef 
ferson,  cred.  Jefferson;  enl.  Oct.  I ,  '62  ;  must,  in  Nov. 
22,  '62,  as  Priv.;  tr.  to  Co.  A,  2  N.  H.  V.,  Apr.  16,  '63. 
Died,  clis.  Sept.  4,  '63,  Pt.  Lookout,  Mel. 

ROBERTS,  JAMES  H.  Co.  B;  b.  ('Topsom, — ";  age  ^14; 
res.  Portsmouth,  cred.  Portsmouth;  enl.  Oct.  8,  '62; 
must,  in  Nov.  13,  '62,  as  Muse.;  tr.  to  Co.  K,  2  N.  H. 
V.,  Apr.  16,  '63;  disch.  to  date  Oct.  9,  '63,  as  Priv. 
Supposed  identical  with  James  H.  Roberts,  Co.  K,  5- 
N.  H.  V. 

ROBINSON,  ALBRO  L.  Co.  A;  b.  Vermont;  age  44; 
res.  Strafford,  cred.  Strafford;  enl.  Nov.  8,  '62;  must, 
in  Nov.  22,  '62,  as  Priv.;  app.  Hosp.  Steward;  must, 
out  Apr.  1 6,  '63.  Died  Oct.  19,  '80,  Littleton. 

ROGERS,  HENRY  V.  Co.  B;  b.  West  New^bury ;  age^2; 
res.  Portsmouth,  cred.  Portsmouth;  enl.  Nov.  18,  '62; 


288  APPENDIX, 

must,  in  Nov.  18,  '62,  as  Priv. ;    tr.  to  Co.  E,  2  N.  H.  V., 
Apr.  1 6,  '63  ;   des.  May  25,  '63,  Concord. 

ROSS,  GAYTON  O.  Co.  C ;  b.  Ncwburyport,  Mass. ;  age 
27;  res.  Seabrook,  cred.  Seabrook ;  enl.  Nov.  27,  '62; 
must,  in  Dec.  29,  '62,  as  Priv.;  tr.  to  2  N.  H.  V.,  Apr. 
16,  '63.  N.  f.  r.  A.  G.  O. 

ROSS,  JAMES.  Co.  A;  b.  Scotland;  age  30;  res.  Lan 
caster,  cred.  Lancaster;  enl.  Nov.  4,  '62  ;  must,  in  Nov. 
22,  '62,  as  Priv. ;  tr.  to  Co.  A,  2  N.  H.  V.,  Apr.  16,  '63  ; 
must,  out  Oct.  9,  '63.  P.  O.  ad.,  Lancaster. 

ROWELL,  WILLIAM  L.  Co.  A;  b.  Goshen  ;  age  28  ;  res. 
Lancaster,  cred.  Lancaster;  enl.  Oct.  18,  '62;  must,  in 
Nov.  22,  '62,  as  Priv.;  app.  Sergt.  Nov.  22,  '62;  must, 
out  Apr.  1 6,  '63.  P.  O.  ad.,  Lancaster. 

RUNNALS,    ALLISON   J.     Co.    B. ;    b.    Hanover;    age    18; 

res.   Strafford,   cred.   Strafford  ;    enl.   Dec.   6,  '62  ;    must. 

in   Dec.  9,  '62,  as  Priv.;    tr.  to  Co.  H,  2   N.  H.  V.,  Apr. 

1 6,  '63  ;    must,  out  Oct.  9,  '63. 
SANBORN,   EDMOXD  B.      Co.  A;    b.  Dalton ;    age  30;    res. 

Carroll,  cred.  Carroll;    enl.  Sept.   8,  '62;    must,  in   Nov. 

22,  '62,  as  Priv. ;    tr.  to  Co.  H,  2  N.  H.  V.,  Apr.  16,  '63  ; 

must,  out  Oct.  9,  '63.      P.  O.  ad.,  Oshkosh,  Wis. 
SANBORX,   SAMUEL  E.     Co.  C  ;    b.  Portsmouth ;    age  21; 

res.  Windham  ;    enl.  Dec.  9,  '62;    must,  in   Dec.  18,  '62, 

as  Priv.;    tr.  to  Co.  I,  2  N.  H.  V.,  April    16,  '63.      Died, 

dis.  Aug.  20,  '63,  Pt.  Lookout,  Md. 
SARGENT,  JOSIAII   H.      Co.   A;   b.  London;    age  22;    res. 

Bow,  cred.  Bow;    enl.   Nov.   24,  '62;    must,  in   Nov.  24, 

'62,  as  Priv.;    tr.  to  Co.  B,  2   N.   H.  V.,  Apr.    16,  '63; 

disch.  to  date  Oct.  9,  '63.      P.  O.  ad.,  Lakeport. 
SHAW,  JOHN  B.      Co.  C;    b.   Hollis;    age    19;    res.  North 

Hampton;    enl.  Dec.    18,  '62;    must,  in   Dec.   18,  '62,  as 

Priv.;    tr.  to  Co.  A,  2  N.  H.  V.,  Apr.  16,  '63  ;    des.  May 

31,  '63,  Concord. 
SHERWOOD,  JASON.      Co.   A;    b.  Jefferson;    age    19;    res. 

Jefferson,   cred.  Jefferson ;    enl.   Sept.   20,  '62  ;    must,   in 

Nov.  22,  '62,  as  Priv.;    tr.  to  Co.  E,  2   N.   H.  V.,  Apr. 

16,  '63;    wd.  July   2,  '63,  Gettysburg,  Pa.;    disch.  Sept. 

10,  '63,  Concord,  tm.  ex.      See  2  N.  H.  V. 


APPENDIX.  289 

SMALL,  HORATIO  N.  F.  and  S. ;  b.  Buxton,  Me. ;  age 
23  ;  res.  Lancaster;  app.  Asst.  Surg.  Nov.  4,  '62  ;  must, 
in  Nov.  14,  '62;  must,  out  Apr.  16,  '63.  See  10  and 
13  N.  H.  V. 

SMITH,  CYRIL  C.  Co.  A;  b.  Lancaster;  age  25;  res. 
Lancaster,  cred.  Lancaster;  enl.  Nov.  13,  '62;  must,  in 
Nov.  22,  '62,  as  Priv. ;  tr.  to  Co.  A,  2  N.  H.  V.,  Apr. 
16,  '63  ;  must,  out  Oct.  9,  '63.  P.  O.  ad.,  Dover. 

SMITH,  JOHN.  Co.  B;  b.  Newcastle;  age  22;  res. 
Grantham,  cred.  Grantham ;  enl.  Nov.  21,  '62;  must,  in 
Nov.  21,  '62,  as  Priv. ;  des.  N.  f.  r.  A.  G.  O. 

SMITH,  JOHN  W.  Co.  A;  b.  Lancaster;  age  25;  res. 
Lancaster;  enl.  Nov.  19,  '62;  must,  in  Nov.  22,  '62,  as 
Priv.;  des.  N.  f.  r.  A.  G.  O.  P.  O.  ad.,  Dover. 

SMITH,  OLIVER  P.  Co.  A;  b.  "  Whitefield  " ;  age  18; 
res.  Whitefield,  cred.  Whitefield;  enl.  Oct.  18,  '62; 
must,  in  Nov.  22,  '62,  as  Corp.;  des.  Apr.  I,  '63; 
appreh. ;  tr.  to  Co.  A,  2  N.  H.  V.,  Apr.  16,  '63,  as 
Priv.  ;  must,  out  Oct.  9,  '63.  P.  O.  ad.,  Whitefield. 
See  5  N.  H.  V.  and  I  N.  H.  Cav. 

SMITH,  WILLIAM.      Co.  A;  b.  Bangor,  Me.  rage  28;   res. 

North   Hampton,   cred.   North   Hampton;   enl.   Nov.   22, 

'62;    must,    in    Nov.    24,    '62,    as    Priv.;    des.      N.    f.    r. 

A.  G.  O. 
SPALDING,   GEORGE    C.      Co.  C;    b.   Merrimack;    age   21  ; 

res.  Seabrook,  cred.  Seabrook ;   enl.  Dec.  23,  '62;   must. 

in  Dec.  26,  '62,  as  Priv.;   tr.  to  Co.  B,  2  N.  H.  V.,  Apr. 

16,  '63  ;  des.  May  24,  '63,  Concord. 

STAPLES,  JOHN  C.  Co.  A;  b.  Comvay;  age  34;  res. 
Whitefield,  cred.  Whitefield  ;  enl.  Sept.  8,  '62;  must,  in 
Nov.  22,  '62,  as  Priv.;  tr.  to  Co.  A,  2  N.  H.  V.,  Apr. 
1 6,  '63  ;  must,  out  Oct.  9,  '63.  P.  O.  ad.,  Carroll. 

STEVENS,  CHARLES  W.  Co.  B ;  b.  Exeter;  age  24;  res. 
Rye,  cred.  Rye;  enl.  Oct.  I,  '62  ;  must,  in  Nov.  13,  '62, 
as  Corp.;  must,  out  Apr.  16,  '63. 

STONE,  FELIX.  Co.  A;  b.  Canada;  age  28;  res.  Sea- 
brook,  cred.  Seabrook;  enl.  Nov.  26,  '62  ;  must,  in  Nov. 
26,  '62,  as  Priv. ;  absent  without  leave.  N.  f.  r.  A.  G.  O. 


290  APPENDIX. 

STOODLEV,  EDWARD  D.  Co.  B  ;  b.  Portsmouth  ;  age  43  ; 
res.  Portsmouth,  cred.  Portsmouth;  enl.  Sept.  i,  '62; 
must,  in  Nov.  13,  '62,  as  Priv. ;  tr.  to  Co.  K,  2  N.  H.  V., 
Apr.  1 6,  '63  ;  must,  out  Oct.  9,  '63. 

STOTT,  ROBERT  A.  Co.  B ;  b.  Ballardvale,  Mass. ;  age 
18;  res.  Portsmouth,  cred.  Portsmouth;  enl.  Oct.  10, 
'62;  must,  in  Nov.  13,  '62,  as  Priv.;  tr.  to  Co.  K,  2 
N.  H.  V.,  Apr.  16,  '63  ;  must,  out  Oct.  9,  '63.  Died 
July  4,  '90,  Portsmouth. 

STUART,  CHARLES  H.  Co.  B;  b.  Bradford,  Mass.;  age 
24;  res.  Greenland,  cred.  Greenland;  enl.  Sept.  13,  '62; 
must,  in  Nov.  13,  '62,  as  Priv.;  app.  Corp.  Died,  dis. 
Feb.  1 6,  '63,  Derry. 

SUTTON,  WILLIAM.  Co.  B;  b.  Saco,  Me.;  age  19;  res. 
Strafford,  cred.  Strafford ;  enl.  Dec.  4,  '62  ;  must,  in 
Dec.  n,  '62,  as  Priv.;  des.  N.  f.  r.  A.  G.  O. 

TANGXEV,  JAMES.  Co.  B;  b.  Ireland;  age  18;  res.  Ports 
mouth,  cred.  Portsmouth;  enl.  Sept.  30,  '62  ;  must,  in 
Nov.  13/62,  as  Priv.;  tr.  to  Co.  K,  2  N.  H.  V.,  Apr.  16, 
'63  ;  must,  out  Oct.  9,  '63.  Supposed  identical  with 
James  Tangney,  Co.  D,  18  N.  H.  V. 

THOMPSON,  JOHN.  Co.  C;  b.  Glasgow,  Scot.;  age  21; 
res.  Wakefield  ;  enl.  Dec.  17,  '62  ;  must,  in  Dec.  18,  '62, 
as  Priv.  ;  des.  N.  f.  r.  A.  G.  O. 

TlBBETTS,  GEORGE  W.  Co.  A;  b.  Brookfield ;  age  23; 
res.  Brookfield;  cred.  Brookfield;  enl.  Oct.  8,  '62  ;  must, 
in  Dec.  5,  '62,  as  Priv.;  tr.  to  Co.  I,  2  N.  H.  V.,  Apr. 
1 6,  '63  ;  killed  July  2,  '63,  Gettysburg,  Pa. 

TOBIE,  ADDISON  W.  Co.  B;  b.Watcrville ;  age  21  ;  cred. 
Grantham  ;  enl.  Nov.  19,  '62;  must,  in  Nov.  20,  '62,  as 
Priv. ;  tr.  to  Co.  C,  2  N.  H.  V.,  Apr.  16,  '63  ;  must,  out 
Oct.  9,  '63.  Died  Sept.  6,  '75,  Manchester.  See  I  and 
4  N.  H.  V. 

TOOL,  WILLIAM.  Co.  B;  b.  Waterford,  Ire. ;  age  38  ;  res. 
Rye,  cred.  Rye;  enl.  Oct.  15,  '62  ;  must  in  Nov.  26,  '62, 
as  Priv.;  tr.  to  Co.  K,  2  N.  H.  V.,  Apr.  16,  '63  ;  must, 
out  Oct.  9,  '63. 

TOWNSEND,  JAMES  S.  Co.  B;  b.  Saco,  Me.;  age  44; 
cred.  North  Hampton;  enl.  Oct.  14,  '62;  must,  in  Nov 


APPENDIX.  291 

13,  '62,   as  Priv. ;  app.  Corp.;   tr.   to   Co.  C;    must,    out 

Apr.  1 6,  '93- 
TURNER,   RICHARD.     Co.    B;    b.    England;    age    39;  res. 

Portsmouth,  cred.    Portsmouth;   enl.   Oct.    i,  '62;  must. 

in  Nov.  13,    '62,  as  Priv. ;  tr.  to  Co.  K,  2  N.  H.  V.,  Apr. 

16;    '63  ;  wd.  sev.  July  2,  '63,  Gettysburg,  Pa. ;  must,  out 

Oct.  9/63. 
TUTTLE,  JESSE.     Co.  C ;  b.   Weare ;    age    40 ;    res.  Berlin, 

cred.   Berlin;    enl.   Nov.  8,  '62;    must,   in,  Dec.    18,  '62, 

as  Priv. ;  tr.   to   Co.  G,  2  N.  H.  V.,  Apr.   16,  '63  ;    must. 

out  Oct.    9,    '63,   Concord,   tm.   ex..      P.    O.  ad.,    Berlin 

Falls. 
WAINWRIGHT,  GEORGE  A.      F.    and    S. ;    b.   Hanover ;  age 

22  ;  res.  Hanover,   cred,  Strafford ;    app.    Adjt.    Nov.    4, 

'62;  must,  in  Nov.   22,  '62;    must,  out  Apr.    16,  '63.      P. 

O.  ad.,    Hanover.     See    I  Co.  N.   H.  H.  Art. 

WALCH,  JOHN   A.     Co.   B;  b.  Portsmouth;   age   18;    res. 

Portsmouth ;    cred.  Portsmouth  ;  enl.  Oct.  9,   '62  ;    must. 

in  Nov.  13,  '62,  as  Priv. ;  reported  on  roll  dated  Apr.  10, 

'63,  as  present  for  duty.      N.  f.  r.   A.  G.   O. 
WALKER,  JOHN  W.      Co.   B;  b.  Portsmouth;  age  22;  res. 

Portsmouth;  cred.  Portsmouth;  enl.   Oct.    13,  '62;  must. 

in   Nov.    13,  '62,   as   Priv.;    reported   on   roll    dated  Apr. 

10,  '63,  as  absent  with  leave.     N.  f.  r.  A.  G.  O. 

WALLACE,  JAMES.     Co.  A;   b.   New  York;    age  21;    res. 

New  Hampshire ;  enl.   Nov.   22,   '62;    must,  in  Nov.   24, 

'62,  as  Priv. ;  des.      N.  f.  r.  A.  G.  O. 
WARREN,  WILLIAM.     Co.  A ;   b.  Peacham,  Vt. ;   age  33; 

cred.  Whitefield  ;   enl.   Nov.    19,  '62  ;    must,   in  Nov.  22, 

'62,  as  Priv.;    tr  to    Co.   G,   2   N.  H.  V.,    Apr.    16,  '63; 

must,  out  Oct.  9,  '63. 
WATSON,  GEORGE  H.     Co.  B;    b.  Vermont;  age  40 ;  res. 

Lancaster,   creel.   Strafford;    enl.  Oct.    17,    '62;  must,    in 

Dec.  29,  '62,  as  Priv.;  tr.  to  Co.  C,  2  N.  H.  V.,  Apr.  16, 

'63  ;  must,  out  Oct.  9,  '63. 
WEARE,   GEORGE  H.     Co.  A;    b.  Whitefield;  age  18;  res. 

Whitefield,   cred.  Whitefield  ;    enl.  Nov.  3,  '62;  must,   in 

Nov.  22,  '62,  as  Priv.;  tr.  to  Co.  F,  2  N.  H.  V.,  Apr.    16, 

'63  ;  killed  July  2,  '63,  Gettysburg,  Pa. 


292  APPENDIX. 

WEBER,  ALEXANDER.     Co.  C;  b.  Germany;  age  21  ;  res. 

Chesterfield,  cred.  Chesterfield;  cnl.  Dec.  19,  '62;  must. 

in  Dec.  30,   '62,  as  Priv. ;  des.  N.  f.  r.  A.  G.  O. 
WEBSTER,  FRANK  D.     Co.  B;  b.  Portsmouth ;  age  21  ;  res. 

Portsmouth;    cred.    Portsmouth;   enl.   Sept.    13,   '62,   as 

Priv.;  app.  I  Lt.  Nov.  13,  '62  ;  must,  in  Nov.    13,  '62,  as 

I  Lt. ;  must,  out  Apr.  16,  '63.   P.O.  ad.,  Philadelphia,  Pa. 

See  U.  S.  Marine  Corps. 
WEEKS,   CHARLES  B.     Co.  B ;  b.  Fryeburg,  Me. ;  age  22  ; 

res.  Chatham,  cred.  Chatham;    enl.   Sept.    17, '62;  must. 

in  Nov.  13,  '62,   as  Priv;    tr.  to  Co.  C,  2   N.  H.  V.,  Apr. 

16,  '63.      Died  dis.  June  19,   '63,  Alexandria,  Va. 
WENTWORTH,  THOMAS.     Co.  B ;  b.  Lynn,  Mass. ;  age  29 ; 

res.  Grantham,  cred.  Grantham  ;    enl.  Nov.  21,  '62  ;  must. 

in  Nov.  2 1, '62,  as  Priv.     N.  f.  r.  A.  G.  O. 
WHEELER,   ELERY.     Co.  A;  b.   Shelburne;    age    17;    res. 

Shelburne,  cred.   Shelburne;  enl.    Sept,   8,   '62;  must,  in 

Nov.  22,  '62,  as  Corp.;    must,  out,  Apr.    16,  '63.     P.  O. 

ad.,  Shelburne.     See  I    N.  H.  H.  Art. 
WHIFFLE,  ALBERT  F.     Co.  A;   b.  Albany,  Vt. ;   age  37; 

res.  Strafford,  cred.    Strafford  ;  enl.    Sept.    15.  '62;  must. 

in  Nov.  22,  '62,    as  Priv;    app.  Prin.  Muse.  Nov.  22,  '62; 

tr.  to  Co.   I,  2  N.  H.   V.,    Apr.  16,    '63,    as    Priv.;    app. 

Muse.    Prin.  Muse.  May  30, '63  ;  must,  out  Oct.  9, '63.    P. 

O.    ad.,    West    Charleston,    Vt.      Removed    to    Everett, 

Mass. 
WHITING,   HENRY  A.     Co.  B;  b.  Bangor,   Me.;    age   32, 

cred.   Portsmouth;  enl.   Nov.  12, '62;    must,  in  Nov.  14, 

'62,  as  Priv. ;  reported  on  rolls  as  present  to  Apr.  10,  '63. 

N.  f.  r.  A.  G.  O. 
WILLIAMS,  JARED  I.     Co.  A;   b.  Lancaster;   age  29;  res. 

Lancaster;   enl.   Oct.    18,  '62,  as  Priv.;    app.  Capt.  Dec. 

30,  '62;    must,  in  to  date  Nov.  26,   '62,  as  Capt.;    must. 

out  Apr.  1 6,  '63.     P.  O.  ad.,  Lancaster. 
WILLIAMS,   JOHN.     Co.    B;    b.    Labrador;    age    39;    res. 

Hampton,    cred.    North    Hampton;    enl.  Nov.   11,  '62; 

must,  in  Nov.  14,  '62,  as  Priv.  ;  des.     N.  f.  r.  A.  G.  O. 
WILLIAMS,    JOSEPH   W.     Co.   C ;    b.  Boston,   Mass. ;   age 

25;    res.  North    Hampton,  cred.  North   Hampton;    enl. 


APPENDIX.  293 

Dec.  18,  '62  ;  must,  in   Dec.  18,  '62,  as  Priv. ;  des.     N.  f. 

r.  A.  G.  O. 
WILLIAMSON,  GEORGE  W.     Co.  B ;  b.  New  York  city ;  age 

28;  res.  Rye,  cred.  Rye;  enl.   Oct.   6.  '62;  must,  in  Nov. 

13,  '62,  as  Priv.;  des.     N.  f.  r.  A.  G.  O. 
WILSON,  THOMAS   H.      Co.  B;    b.   Kittery,  Me.;  age    18; 

res.  Portsmouth,  cred.   Portsmouth;    enl.   Sept.    26,   '62; 

must,  in  Nov.  13,  '62,  as  Priv.;  tr.  to  Co.  K,  2  N.  H.  V., 

Apr.  1 6,  '63  ;  must,  out,  Oct.  9,  '63. 
WlMAN,   GEORGE.       Co.   B;    b.   New  York;    age   25;    res. 

Grantham,  cred.  Grantham  ;    enl.  Nov.   20,  '62  ;    must,  in 

Nov.  21,  '62,  as  Priv.;  des.     N.  f.  r.  A.  G.  O. 
WlNGATE,   HENRY.      Co.  B;  b.  Sherbrooke,  Can.;  age  23  ; 

res.  Portsmouth,    cred.    Portsmouth;    enl.    Oct.    31,  '62; 

must,  in  Nov.  13,   '62,  as  Priv.     Died,  dis.  Mar.  18,  '63, 

Canada  East,  while  on  furlough. 
WlNSHlP,  CHARLES   W.     Co.  B;    b.  New  Boston;    age  18, 

res.  Hampton;  enl.   Nov.   3,   '62;  must,  in  Nov.  14, '62  ; 

as  Priv.;  tr.    to  Co.  D,  2  N.  H.  V.,  Apr.  16,   '63  ;  wd.  July 

2,  '63,  and  died  wds.  July  23,  '63,  Gettysburg,  Pa. 


SUMMARY  OF  SEVENTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE    VOLUN 
TEER  INFANTRY. 


Original  members,     officers,  12;   enlisted  men,  203;   total,  215 
"         gained  by  transfer,    "        "          i          "          I 

Total  strength          ...  .216 

Died  of  disease       .          .          .  enlisted  men,       4;  total,  4 
Mustered  out,  or  disch.  to  date 

April  1 6,  '63        .  officers,  12;  enlisted  men,     39;  total,  51 

Discharged  on  other  dates        .  "           "          I  ;  "  I 

Lost  by  transfer      .          .          .  "           "105;  "105 

Deserted         .  45  ?  "  45 

Not  finally  accounted  for         .  "           "        10;  "  10 

Officers  appointed  but  not  mustered       .          .         55"         5 

216 

PLACE  OF  BIRTH. 

United  States            .                             .  .183 

Canada             .  .11 
Ireland 

Germany          •  -4 

Scotland           ...  3 

England           ....  .2 

New  Brunswick        .          .  i 

Labrador                             ...  i 

Unknown         ...  .                                                  3 

216 


TABLES. 


TABLE   I. 


Table  showing  number  of  men  called  for  under  the  President's  proclama 
tions  during  the  war ;  the  number  of  men  furnished ;  the  quota  of  New 
Hampshire,  and  the  number  credited,  from  records  in  the  War  Department. 


Number 
called  for. 


Number   !  N.    H. 
enlisted,  j    quota. 


N.    H. 
furnished. 


April  15,  1861,  for  3  months  
May  3,  1861,  for  6  mos.,  i,  2,  and 
3  years  

75,000 

CQO  OOO 

91,816 

780 

779 

Q    ,_O 

July  2,  1862,  for  3  years  

1OO  OOO 

A^l    j6^ 

»^j4 

s>335 

August  4,  1862,  for  nine  months. 
Tune  15,  1863,  f°r  six  months.  .  . 

300,000 

87,588 

16361 

j'uiJ 

5.053 

6,39° 
!,736 

Oct.  17,  1863,  and  Feb-    TI  J864, 
for  3  years  in  the  aggregate*.  . 
March  14,  1864,  for  3  years  
July    18,  1864,   for    i,    2,    and   3 
years   (reduced    by   excess   on 
previous  calls)  

500,000 
200,000 

CQO  OOO 

369.380 
292,193 

186  A.6i 

6,469 
2,588 

A  6/l8 

6,977 
2,965 

Dec.  19,  1864,  for  i,  2,  3,  and  4 
years.  ..  . 

5'973 

Mustered  for  100  days  

Si  612 

r>3°4 

May  and  June,  '62,  mustered  for 
3  months.  . 

107 

June,  '63,  mustered  for  3  months 
Volunteers  not  on  quotas 

16,361 

l82  1  C7 

°^»JJ/ 

2,675,000 

2,875,493 

35,897  I 

34,629 

*  Includes  men  raised  by  draft. 

The  above  figures  also  include  commutation. 

The  aggregate  number  of  men,   reduced  to  a  three  years'  standard,  was 

2,  320,272. 

The  discrepancy  in  the  figures  for  New  Hampshire,  as  given  in  other 
tables  compiled  from  the  Adjutant-General's  reports,  and  in  this  one,  arises 
from  a  natural  difference  in  the  rolls  of  the  War  Department  and  of  the  state. 

January  ist,  1861,  the  army  numbered  16,367  men.  At  various  dates  dur 
ing  the  war  the  number  was  as  follows: 

1861. 

1862. 
1863. 
1864. 
1865. 


July  i 
Jan.  i 
Jan.  i 
Jan.  i 
Jan.  i 
May  i 


186,751. 

575,917. 
918,191. 
860,737. 
3o,o86. 


1865 1,000,516. 


296 


APPENDIX. 


TABLE  II. 

Table  showing  number  of  officers  and  men  in  the  various  New  Hampshii 
organizations  during  the  war. 


Original 
Number. 

Additions. 

Total. 

Ill 

1,022 
1,035 
1,025 
I,OO2 
885 
982 
926 

990 

926 
1,005 
1,019 

1,016 
968 
919 
914 
216 
977 
326 
927 
156 
'45 
I25 
1,822 

IOI 

96 
97 

i 

388 

39 

i,533 
734 
734 
1,560 

',563 
780 

677 
886 
407 
650 

444 
256 
418 

816 

2,555 
1,769 

J,759 
2,562 
2,448 
1,762 
1,603 
1,876 

i,333 
r»655 
',463 
1,272 
1,386 
919 
914 
216 
978 
435 
1.533 
258 
181 
170 

1,857 
116 
no 
125 

4 
388 

23 

Third  Regiment                     

Sixth  Regiment               

Seventh  Regiment                      

Ninth  Regiment  

Tenth  Regiment     .  .        

Eleventh  Regiment                   

Twelfth  Regiment                              

Eighteenth  Regiment                

i 
109 
606 

IO2 
36 

45 
35 
15 
H 

28 

3 

N    H    Bat   N   E    Cavalry       

First  Company  Heavy  Artillery  

Second  Company  Heavy  Artillery,  
First  Regiment  Heavy  Artillery  

Co   E   First  U    S    Sharpshooters  

Co.  F,  Second  U.  S.  Sharpshooters  
Co   G   Second  U    S    Sharpshooters 

Second   Regt.  U.  S.  Sharpshooters,  unas- 

23 

N.  H.  men  in  Vet.  Reserve  Corps  
N.  H.  men  in  U.  S.  Colored  Troops  

20,811 

4'3 
396 
156 
7i 

12 

3,  I  60 
366 
1,883 

11,675 

32,486 

3 

156 
71 

12 

3,l6o 
366 
1,883 

N.  H.  men  in  U.  S.  Veteran  Volunteers..  . 
N   H   men  in  U    S    Navy                       .... 

N.  H.  men  in  U.  S.  Marine  Corps  

27,268 

",675 

38,943 

APPENDIX. 


297 


TABLE  III. 

Table  showing  the  number  killed  or  who  died  of  wounds,  or  from  other 
causes,  in  the  various  New  Hampshire  organizations  during  the  war 


Killed  or 
died  of 
wounds. 

Other 
causes. 

Total 
deaths. 

First  Regiment.  . 

159 
194 

Q  ^ 

282 
158 

J52 
99 
M3 

66 
136 
1  80 
90 
66 
30 

148 

l85 
176 

230 
246 
232 

243 
132 
167 
146 
90 
159 
Ir5 
213 

4 
34 
18 
106 
6 
6 
3 
34 

12 

I 

5 
337 
342 
280 

458 
388 

398 

$ 

198 

303 
326 
1  80 

225 

MS 
213 

4 
37 
33 
129 

6 

3 
34 

21 

22 
23 

I 

Second  Regiment  

Third  Regiment  

Fourth  Regiment.  . 

Fifth  Regiment  
Sixth  Regiment  .    . 

Seventh  Regiment.. 

Eighth  Regiment 

Ninth  Regiment  

Tenth  Regiment  

Eleventh  Regiment. 

Twelfth   Regiment 

Thirteenth  Regiment  

Fourteenth   Regiment. 

Fifteenth  Regiment  

Sixteenth   Regiment  

Seventeenth  Re  iment 

Eighteenth  Regiment 

3 
15 

~6 

N.  H.  Bat.  N.  E.  Cavalry  

First  Regt   of  Cavalry 

First  Eight  Batterv 

First  Company  Heavy  Artillery  

Second  Companv  Heavy  Artillery  . 

First  Regiment  Heavy  Artillery  

12 

M 
I  I 

Co.  E,  First  U.  S.  Sharpshooters  

Co.  F    Second  TJ    S    Sharpshooters 

Co   G   Second  U    S    Sharpshooters 

Second  Regt.   U.   S.  Sharpshooters,  unas- 
signed                                                    .      ... 

2,906 


4,840 


According  to  official  records  the  total  number  of  deaths  during  the 
war  was  as  follows  : 


Killed  in  battle  . 
Died  of  wounds  . 
Suicide,  homicide, 
Died  of  disease  . 
Unknown  causes  . 


and  execution 


44,238 

49,205 

526 

186,216 
24,184 


Total 


A  CHRONOLOGICAL  LIST  OF  ENGAGEMENTS  DURING 
THE  WAR,  IN  WHICH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE  TROOPS  PAR 
TICIPATED,  GIVING  ALSO  THE  NAMES  OF  EACH  NEW 
HAMPSHIRE  ORGANIZATION  ENGAGED. 

[By  regiment  is  meant  infantry  unless  otherwise  specified.] 

1861. 

july  2 1. —Bull  Run,  Va.     Second  Regiment. 

Sept.  27.— Lewinsville,  Va.  Co.  E,  First  Regiment  U.  S.  Sharp 
shooters. 

Sept.  29.— Falls  Church,  Va.  Co.  E,  First  Regiment  U.  S.  Sharp 
shooters. 

Nov.  7.— Port  Royal,  S.  C.     Third  and  Fourth  Regiments. 

1862. 

April  1 1 -May  4.— Siege  of  Yorktovvn,  Va.  Second  and  Fifth  Regi 
ments,  and  Co.  E,  First  Regiment  U.  S.  Sharpshooters. 

Apnl  i9._Camden,  N.  C.     Sixth  Regiment. 

April  19.— Falmouth,  Va.  Cos.  F  and  G,  First  Regiment  U.  S. 
Sharpshooters. 

March  27.— Big  Bethel,  Va.  Co.  E,  First  Regiment  U.  S.  Sharp 
shooters. 

March  28.— Rappahannock  River,  Va.    Fifth  Regiment. 

May  5. Williamsburg,  Va.     Second  Regiment. 

May  27. —Hanover  Court  House,  Va.  Co.  E,  First  Regiment  U.  S. 
Sharpshooters. 

May  30. —Front  Royal,  Va.    N.  H.  Battalion,  First  Regiment  N.  E. 

Volunteer  Cavalry. 

June  i.— Fair  Oaks,  Va.     Fifth  Regiment. 

June  8-15.— James's  Island,  S.  C.     Third  and  Fourth  Regiments. 

june  ,6._ Secessionville,  S.  C.     Third  Regiment. 

June  2,  3,  8.— Skirmish  at  Fair  Oaks,  Va.     Second  Regiment. 

june  25. — Qak  Grove,  Va.     Second  Regiment. 

june  26.— Mechanicsville,  Va.  Co.  E,  First  Regiment  U.  S.  Sharp 
shooters. 

June  27.— Gaines1*  Mill,  Va.  Co.  E,  First  Regiment  U.  S.  Sharp 
shooters. 


APPENDIX. 


299 


June  29. — Peach  Orchard,  Va.     Second  and  Fifth  Regiments. 

June  29. — Savage's  Station,  Va.     Fifth  Regiment. 

June  30. — White  Oak  Swamp,  Va.      Second  and  Fifth  Regiments. 

July  i.— Malvern  Hill,  Va.  Fifth  Regiment,  Co.  E,  First  Regi 
ment  U.  S.  Sharpshooters. 

July  i. — Malvern  Hill,  Va.     Second  Regiment. 

July  26. — Orange  Court  House,  Va.  Cos.  F  and  G,  First  Regiment 
U.  S.  Sharpshooters. 

August  6. — Bowling  Green,  Va.  Cos.  F  and  G,  First  Regiment 
U.  S.  Sharpshooters. 

August  9. — Cedar  Mountain,  Va.  N.  H.  Battalion,  First  Regiment 
N.  E.  Volunteer  Cavalry. 

August  21. — Pinckney  Island,  S.  C.     Third  Regiment. 

August  21-3. — Rappahannock  Station,  Va.  First  N.  H.  Volunteer 
Light  Battery,  and  Cos.  F  and  G,  First  Regiment  U.  S.  Sharpshooters. 

August  26. — Sulphur  Springs,  Va.  First  N.  H.  Volunteer  Light 
Battery,  and  Cos.  F  and  G,  First  Regiment  U.  S.  Sharpshooters. 

August  27. — Kettle  Run,  Va.     Second  Regiment. 

August  28. — Gainesville,  Va.  Cos.  F  and  G,  First  Regiment  U.  S. 
Sharpshooters. 

August  29. — Groveton,  Va.  First  N.  H.  Volunteer  Light  Battery; 
N.  H.  Battalion,  First  Regiment  N.  E.  Volunteer  Cavalry. 

August  29. — Gainesville,  Va.  Co.  E,  First  U.  S.  Regiment  Sharp 
shooters. 

August  30. — Second  Bull  Run.  Second  and  Sixth  Regiments ; 
First  N.  H.  Volunteer  Light  Battery,  N.  H.  Battalion,  First  Regiment 
N.  E.  Volunteer  Cavalry;  Cos.  E,  F,  and  G,  First  U.  S.  Regiment 
Sharpshooters. 

Sept.  i.— Chantilly,  Va.  Second  and  Sixth  Regiments;  N.  H.- Bat 
talion,  First  Regiment  Volunteer  Cavalry;  Cos.  F  and  G,  First  U.  S. 
Regiment  Sharpshooters. 

Sept.  14. — South  Mountain,  Va.  Sixth  and  Ninth  Regiments; 
Cos.  F  and  G,  First  U.  S.  Regiment  Sharpshooters. 

Sept.  15. — Boonsborough,  Md.  Fifth  Regiment;  Cos.  F  and  G, 
First  U.  S.  Regiment  Sharpshooters. 

Sept.  17. — Antietam,  Md.  Fifth,  Sixth,  and  Ninth  Regiments; 
Cos.  E,  F,  and  G,  First  U.  S.  Regiment  Sharpshooters;  First  N.  H. 
Volunteer  Light  Battery. 

Sept.  19,20. — Black  Ford,  Va.  Co.  E,  First  U.  S.  Regiment 
Sharpshooters. 

Oct.  22. — Pocotaligo,  S.  C.     Third  and  Fourth  Regiments. 


3oo 


APPEArDIX. 


Oct.  27. — Labadieville,  La.     Eighth  Regiment. 

Oct.  31. Mountville,  Va.  Cos.  L,  K,  and  M,  First  Regiment 

N.  E.  Volunteer  Cavalry. 

Nov.  2.— Snickers1  Gap,  Va.     Fifth  Regiment. 

Nov.  2,  3.— Upperville,  Va.     First  N.  H.  Light  Battery. 

Nov.  15. — White  Sulphur  Springs,  Va.  Sixth,  Ninth,  Tenth,  and 
Eleventh  Regiments. 

Dec.  12-15. — Fredericksburgr  Va.  Second,  Fifth,  Sixth,  Ninth, 
Tenth,  Eleventh,  Twelfth,  and  Thirteenth  Regiments;  Co.  K,  First 
Regiment  N.  E.  Volunteer  Cavalry ;  First  New  Hampshire  Volunteer 
Light  Battery;  Cos.  E,  F,  and  G,  First  U.  S.  Regiment  Sharpshooters. 

Dec.  13  — Getty's  Night  Assault.     Thirteenth  Regiment. 

1863. 

Jan.  14. — Bayou  Teche,  La.     Co.  B,  Eighth  Regiment. 

Feb.  26. — Hartwood  Church,  Va.  N.  H.  Battalion,  First  Regiment 
N.  E.  Volunteer  Cavalry. 

March  14.— Port  Hudson,  La.     Eighth  and  Sixteenth  Regiments. 

March  17. — Kelley's  Ford,  Va.  N.  H.  Battalion,  First  Regiment 
N.  E.  Volunteer  Cavalry. 

April  lo-May  4. — Siege  of  Suffolk,  Va.  Tenth  and  Thirteenth 
Regiments. 

April  12-14. — Bisland,  La.     Eighth  Regiment. 

April  19.— Hills  Point,  Va.     Tenth  Regiment. 

April  20. — Butte-a-La-Rose,  La.      Sixteenth  Regiment. 

April  27-May  8. — Stoneman's  Raid.  N.  H.  Battalion,  First  Regi 
ment  N.  E.  Volunteer  Cavalry. 

May  1-5. — Chancellorsville,  Va.  Fifth  and  Twelfth  Regiments; 
Cos.  .E,  F,  and  G,  First  U.  S.  Regiment  Sharpshooters;  First  N.  H. 
Volunteer  Light  Battery. 

May  2. — Fredericksburg,  Va.  First  N.  H.  Volunteer  Light  Bat 
tery. 

May  3. — Providence  Church  Road.  Va.     Thirteenth  Regiment. 

May  23-July  9. — Siege  of  Port  Hudson,  La.  Eighth,  Fifteenth, 
and  Sixteenth  Regiments. 

June  9. — Brandy  Station,  Va.  N.  H.  Battalion,  First  Regiment 
N.  E.  Volunteer  Cavalry. 

June  i4-July  4.— Siege  of  Vicksburg,  Miss.  Sixth,  Ninth,  and 
Eleventh  Regiments. 

June  17. — Thoroughfare  Gap,  Va.  N.  H.  Battalion,  First  Regi 
ment  N.  E.  Volunteer  Cavalry. 


APPENDIX.  301 

June  18. — Middleburgh,  Va.  N.  H.  Battalion,  First  Regiment  N.  E. 
Volunteer  Cavalry 

July  1-3.— Gettysburg,  Pa.  Second  (including  Seventeenth),  Fifth, 
and  Twelfth  Regiments,  First  N.  H.  Volunteer  Light  Battery;  Cos. 
E,  F,  and  G,  First  U.  S.  Regiment  Sharpshooters. 

July  4. — Little  Page's  Bridge,  Va.     Tenth  Regiment. 

July  10-17. — Jackson,  Miss.  Sixth,  Ninth,  and  Eleventh  Regi 
ments. 

July  lo-Sept.  6. — Siege  of  Fort  Wagner,  Morris  Island,  S.  C. 
Third,  Fourth,  and  Seventh  Regiments. 

July  n,  18. — Fort  Wagner,  first  and  second  assaults.  Third  and 
Seventh  Regiments. 

July  23. — Wapping  Heights,  Va.  Second  and  Twelfth  Regiments; 
First  N.  H.  Volunteer  Light  Battery;  Cos.  E,  F,  and  G,  First  U.  S. 
Regiment  Sharpshooters. 

Sept.  7-Feb.  29,  '64. — Siege  of  Fort  Sumter,  S.  C.  Third,  Fourth, 
and  Seventh  Regiments. 

Sept.  8. — Sabin  Pass,  La.     Eighth  Regiment. 

Sept.  14. — Rapidan  Station,  Va.  N.  H.  Battalion,  First  Regiment 
N.  E.  Volunteer  Cavalry. 

Oct.  12. — Culpeper,  Va.  N.  H.  Battalion,  First  Regiment  N.  E. 
Volunteer  Cavalry. 

Oct.  13. — Auburn,  Va.  Cos.  E,  F  and  G,  First  U.  S.  Regiment 
Sharpshooters. 

Oct.  14. — Bristol  Station,  Va.  N.  H.  Battalion,  First  Regiment 
N.  E.  Volunteer  Cavalry. 

Nov.  7. — Kelly's  Ford,  Va.  Cos.  E,  F  and  G,  First  U.  S.  Regi 
ment  Sharpshooters. 

Nov.  8. — Brandy  Station,  Va.  First  N.  H.  Volunteer  Light  Battery  ; 
Cos.  F  and  G,  First  U.  S.  Regiment  Sharpshooters. 

Nov.  i7-Dec.  4. — Siege  of  Knoxville,   Tenn.     Eleventh  Regiment. 

Nov.  27 — Locust  Grove,  Va.  Cos.  E,  F  and  G,  First  U.  S.  Regi 
ment  Sharpshooters. 

Nov.  28-30. — Mine  Run,  Va.  Cos.  F  and  G,  First  U.  S.  Regiment 
Sharpshooters;  First  N.  H.  Volunteer  Light  Battery. 

1864. 

Jan.  i. — Strawberry  Plains,  Tenn.     Eleventh  Regiment. 
Feb.  20. — Olustee,  Fia.     Seventh  Regiment. 
March  21. — Henderson's  Hill,  La.     Eighth  Regiment. 
March  31. — Nutchitoches,  La.     Eighth  Regiment. 


302 


APPENDIX. 


April  2. — Crump's  Hill,  La.      Eighth  Regiment. 

April  7. — Wilson's  Farm,  La.     Eighth  Regiment. 

April  8.— Sabine  Cross  Roads,  La.     Eighth  Regiment. 

April  23. — Monetfs  Bluff,  La.     Eighth  Regiment. 

April  24. — Cane  River,  La.     Eighth  Regiment. 

April  25-May  7. — Alexandria,  La.     Eighth  Regiment. 

May  i . — Snaggy  Point,  La.     Eighth  Regiment. 

May  2. — Governor  Moore's  Plantation,  La.     Eighth  Regiment. 

May  5-7. — Wilderness,  Va.  Sixth,  Ninth,  Eleventh  Regiments, 
First  N.  H.  Volunteer  Light  Battery;  Cos.  E,  F  and  G,  First  U.  S. 
Regiment  Sharpshooters. 

May  6-7.— Port  Walthall,  Va.     Tenth  and  Thirteenth  Regiments. 

May  8-20. — Spottsylvania,  Va.  Sixth,  Ninth  and  Eleventh  Regi 
ments  :  First  N.  H.  Volunteer  Light  Battery;  Cos.  E,  F  and  G,  First 
U.  S.  Regiment  Sharpshooters. 

May  8-9. — Todd's  Tavern,  Va.  Cos.  E,  F  and  G,  First  Regiment 
U.  S.  Sharpshooters. 

May  9-11. — Swift  Creek,  Va. — Second,  Fourth,  Tenth,  Twelfth 
and  Thirteenth  Regiments. 

May  9-10.— Potomac  River,  Va.  First  N.  H.  Volunteer  Light  Bat 
tery;  Cos.  E,  F  and  G,  First  U.  S.  Regiment  Sharpshooters. 

May  9. — Chester  Station,  Va.     Third  and  Seventh  Regiments. 

May  10. — Lempster  Hill,  Va.      Seventh  Regiment. 

May  12-13. — Proctor's  and  Kingsland  Creeks,  Va.  Tenth  and 
Thirteenth  Regiments. 

May  12-20. — Drewry's  Bluff,  Va.  Second,  Third,  P^ourth,  Seventh, 
Tenth,  Twelfth  and  Thirteenth  Regiments. 

May  14. — Relay  House,  Va. — Twelfth  Regiment. 

May  14-16. — Marksville,  La.     Eighth  Regiment. 

May  16-28. — New  Bermuda  Hundreds,  Va.  Fourth  and  Thirteenth 
Regiments. 

May  17. — Bayou-de-Glaize,  La.     Eighth  Regiment. 

May  i8-June  2.—  Bermuda  Hundreds,  Va.  Third  and  Seventh  Reg 
iments. 

May  18. — Yellow  Bayou,  La.     Eighth  Regiment. 

May  23-27. — North  Anna  River,  Va.  Sixth,  Ninth  and  Eleventh 
Regiments;  First  N.  H.  Volunteer  Light  Battery;  Cos.  E,  F  and  G, 
First  U.S.  Regiment  Sharpshooters. 

May  26. — Port  Walthall,  Va.     Twelfth  Regiment. 

May  28. — Sheldon's  Cross  Roads,  Va.  First  N.  H.  Volunteer  Light 
Battery. 


APPENDIX.  303 

May  28-31. — Totopotomoy.  Va.  Sixth,  Ninth  and  Eleventh  Regi 
ments;  First  N.  H.  Volunteer  Light  Battery;  Cos.  E,  F  and  G,  U.  S. 
Regiment  Sharpshooters. 

May  31. Hanover  Court  House,  Va.  First  Regiment  N.  H.  Vol 
unteer  Cavalry  - 

June  1-12. — Cold  Harbor,  Va.  Second,  Fourth,  Fifth,  Sixth, 
Ninth,  Tenth,  Eleventh,  Twelfth  and  Thirteenth  Regiments;  First 
Regiment  N.  H.  Volunteer  Cavalry;  First  N.  H.  Volunteer  Light  Bat 
tery;  Cos.  E,  F  and  G,  First  U.  S.  Regiment  Sharpshooters. 

June  2,  3. — Bethesda  Church,  Va.  Sixth,  Ninth  and  Eleventh  Reg 
iments. 

June  9. — Near  Petersburg,  Va.     Third  and  Seventh  Regiments. 

June  13. — White  Oak  Swamp,  Va.  First  Regiment  N.  H.  Volun 
teer  Cavalry. 

June  15. — Battery  Five,  Petersburg,  Va.  Tenth  and  Thirteenth 
Regiments. 

June  15. — April  2,  1865.  Siege  of  Petersburg,  Va.  Second, 
Third,  Fourth,  Fifth,  Sixth,  Seventh,  Ninth,  Tenth,  Eleventh, 
Twelfth,  Thirteenth  and  Eighteenth  Regiments;  First  N.  H.  Volun 
teer  Light  Battery;  Cos.  E,  F  and  G,  First  U.  S.  Regiment  Sharp 
shooters. 

June  1 6. Ware  Bottom  Church,  Va.  Third  and  Seventh  Regi 
ments. 

June  21-30. — Wilson's  Raid  on  the  Weldon  Railroad,  Va.  First 
Regiment  New  Hampshire  Volunteer  Cavalry.  Cos.  E,  F  and  G, 
First  U.  S.  Regiment  Sharpshooters. 

June  22. — Jerusalem  Plank  Road,  Va.     Fifth  Regiment. 

July  27-Aug.  16. — Deep  Bottom,  Va.  Third,  Fourth,  Fifth,  Sev 
enth  and  Fourteenth  Regiments;  First  N.  H.  Volunteer  Light  Battery; 
Cos.  E,  Fand  G,  First  U.  S.  Regiment  Sharpshooters. 

July  30. — Mine  explosion,  Petersburg,  Va.  Fourth,  Sixth,  Ninth, 
Tenth,  Eleventh,  Twelfth  and  Thirteenth  Regiments;  Cos.  F  and  G, 
First  LT.  S.  Regiment  Sharpshooters. 

Aug.  17.— Winchester,  Va.  Fourteenth  Regiment ;  First  Regiment 
N.  H.  Volunteer  Cavalry. 

Aug.  18-22. — Weldon  Railroad,  Va.  Sixth,  Ninth  and  Eleventh 
Regiments. 

Aug.  21. — Summit  Point,  Va.  First  Regiment  N.  H.  Volunteer 
Cavalry. 

Aug.  22 Charlestown,  Va.  First  Regiment  N.  H.  Volunteer 

Cavalry. 


304 


APPENDIX. 


Aug.  25. — Ream's  Station,  Va.     Fifth  Regiment. 

Aug.  25. — Kearneysville,  Va.  First  Regiment  N.  H.  Volunteer 
Cavalry. 

Aug.  26. — Halltown,  Va.     Fourteenth  Regiment. 

Aug.  27-Sept.  28. — Bermuda  Hundred,  Va.      Thirteenth  Regiment. 

Sept.  3. — Berryville,  Va.     Fourteenth  Regiment. 

Sept.  13. — Lock's  Ford,  Va.     Fourteenth  Regiment. 

Sept.  15. — Berryville,  Va.  First  Regiment  N.  H.  Volunteer 
Cavalry. 

Sept.  19. — Opequan.  Fourteenth  Regiment ;  First  Regiment  N.  H. 
Volunteer  Cavalry. 

Sept.  21. — Front  Royal  Pike,  Va.  First  Regiment  N.  H.  Volun 
teer  Cavalry. 

Sept.  21. — Gooney  Manor  Grade,  Va.  First  Regiment  N.  H.  Vol 
unteer  Cavalry. 

Sept.  22. — Fisher's  Hill,  Va.     Fourteenth  Regiment. 

Sept.  22. — Milford,  Va.     First  Regiment  N.  H.  Volunteer  Cavalry. 

Sept.  28. — Waynesborough,  Va.  First  Regiment  N.  H.  Volunteer 
Cavalry. 

Sept.  29. — New  Market  Heights,  Va.  Third,  Fourth,  and  Seventh 
Regiments. 

Sept.  29-30. — Fort  Harrison,  Va.  Tenth  and  Thirteenth  Regi 
ments. 

Sept.  30-Oct.  i. — Poplar  Springs  Church,  Va.  Sixth,  Ninth,  and 
Eleventh  Regiments ;  Cos.  F  and  G,  First  U.  S.  Regiment  Sharp 
shooters. 

Oct.  i. — Near  Richmond,  Va.     Third  and  Seventh  Regiments.   - 

Oct.  7. — New  Market,  Va.     Third  and  Seventh  Regiments. 

Oct.  7. — Columbia  Furnace,  Va.  First  Regiment  N.  H.  Volunteer 
Cavalry. 

Oct.  9. — Tom's  Brook,  Va.  Fourteenth  Regiment;  First  Regiment 
N.  H.  Volunteer  Cavalry. 

Oct.  13. — Reconnoissance  to  Strasburg,  Va.  Fourteenth  Regi 
ment;  First  Regiment  N.  H.  Volunteer  Cavalry. 

Oct.  13-28. — Darbytown  Road,  Va.     Third  and  Seventh  Regiments. 

Oct.  19. — Cedar  Creek,  Va.  Fourteenth  Regiment;  First  Regi 
ment  N.  H.  Volunteer  Cavalry. 

Oct.  27. — Hatcher's  Run,  Va.  Sixth,  Ninth,  and  Eleventh  Regi 
ments. 

Oct.  27. — Boydton  Plank  Road,  Va.  Cos.  F  and  G,  First  U.  S. 
Regiment  Sharpshooters. 


APPENDIX. 


305 


Oct.  27. — Reconnoissance  near  Williamsburg  Road,  Va.  Second 
Regiment. 

Oct.  27. — Fair  Oaks,  Va.     Tenth  and  Thirteenth  Regiments. 

Nov.  11-12. — Middletown,  Va.     First  Regiment  Volunteer  Cavalry. 

Nov.  17. — Bermuda  Hundred,  Va.     Twelfth  Regiment. 

Dec.  8-9. — Reconnoisance  to  Hatcher's  Run,  Va.     Fifth  Regiment. 

Dec.  8-io.— Weldon  Railroad,  Va.  Cos.  F  and  G,  First  U.  S. 
Regiment  Sharpshooters. 

Dec.  20-21. — Lacey^  Springs,  Va.  First  Regiment  N.  H.  Volun 
teer  Cavalry. 

1865. 

Jan.  15. — Fort  Fisher,  N.  C.  Third,  Fourth,  and  Seventh  Regi 
ments. 

Jan.  18-19. — Half  Moon  Battery,  N.  C.     Seventh  Regiment. 

Feb.  5-7. — Hatcher's  Run,  Va.  Cos.  F  and  G,  First  U.  S.  Regi 
ment  Sharpshooters. 

Feb.  ii. — Sugar  Loaf  Battery,  N.  C.  Third  and  Seventh  Regi 
ments. 

Feb.  18. — Fort  Anderson,  N.  C.     Fourth  Regiment. 

Feb.  22. — Wilmington,  N.  C.     Third  and  Seventh  Regiments. 

March  2. — Waynesborough,  Va.  First  Regiment  N.  H.  Volunteer 
Cavalry. 

March  6-7. — North  Fork,  Va.  First  Regiment  N.  H.  Volunteer 
Cavalry. 

March  25. — Fort  Steadman,  Va.      Fifth  and  Eighteenth  Regiments. 

March  31. — Dinwiddie  Court  House,  Va.     Fifth  Regiment. 

March  31. — Boydton  Plank  Road,  Va.     First  N.  H.   Light  Battery. 

April  2.— White  Oak  Road,  Va.     First  N.  H.  Light  Battery. 

April  3. — Richmond,  Va.,  occupation.  Second,  Tenth,  Twelfth, 
and  Thirteenth  Regiments. 

April  6.— Sailors1  Creek,  Va.  Fifth  Regiment ;  First  N.  H.  Light 
Battery. 

April  6. — Amelia  Springs,  Va.     First  N.  H.  Light  Battery. 

April  6.— Deatonsville,  Va.     First  N.  H.  Light  Battery. 

April  7. — Farmville,  Va.  Fifth  Regiment.  First  N.  H.  Light 
Battery. 

April  7. —High  Bridge,  Va.     First  N.  H.  Light  Battery. 


A  RECORD  OF  THE  BATTLES  AND  ENGAGEMENTS  IN 
THE  WAR  OF  THE  REBELLION,  WHERE  THE  LOSS  ON 
THE  UNION  SIDE  WAS  FIVE  HUNDRED  OR  MORE; 
TOGETHER  WITH  OTHER  EVENTS  OF  IMPORTANCE, 
ALL  ARRANGED  CHRONOLOGICALLY. 

This  list  is  largely  compiled  from  Frederick  Phisterers  Statistical 
Record.  He  states  that  the  losses  are  generally  based  on  official  med 
ical  returns,  but  must  not  be  regarded  as  perfectly  reliable,  since  some 
returns  were  based  on  estimates.  The  Confederate  losses  given  are 
generally  estimates. 

NOTE. — f.,  followed  by  figures,  indicates  the  Federal  loss,  in  killed,  wounded,  and 
missing ;  and  c.,  the  Confederate  loss  from  same  sources. 

1861. 

April  13. — Fort  Sumter,  Charleston,  S.  C.,  surrenders. 

April  15. — President  calls  for  75,000  volunteers  to  serve  for  three 
months. 

April  19. — Sixth  Massachusetts  and  Twenty-sixth  Pennsylvania  Reg 
iments  march  through  streets  of  Baltimore,  Md.  ;  attacked  by  mob  ; 
several  killed. 

May  3. — President  calls  for  42,034  volunteers  to  serve  for  three 
years. 

June  i. — Federal  forces  enter  Virginia. 

July  21. — Bull  Run,  Va.  ;   f.  2,952;   c.  1,752. 

Aug.  10 — Wilson's  Creek,  Mo.;   f.  1,235;   c.  1,095. 

Aug.  20. — McClellan  assumes  command  Army  of  the  Potomac. 

Aug.  29. — Fort  Hatteras,  N.  C.,  surrenders. 

Sept.  12-20. — Lexington,  Mo.;   f.  1,774;   c.  100. 

Oct.  21.— BulPs  Bluff,  Va.  ;   f.  894:   c.   302. 

Oct.  31. — Lieutenant-General  Scott  resigns;  McClellan  in  command 
of  Federal  forces. 

Nov.  7. — Belrnont,  Mo.  ;  f.  498  ;  c.  966.  This  was  General  Grant's 
first  independent  command. 

Nov.  8. — Captain  Wilkes,  U.  S.  N.,  boards  British  ship  Trent, 
seizes  and  carries  to  Boston  the  Confederate  commissioners,  Mason 
and  Slidell. 


APPENDIX.  307 

1862. 

Feb.  14-16. Fort  Donelson,  Term.  ;   f.  2,331  ;  c.  15,067. 

March  6-8.— Pea  Ridge,  Ark.  ;  f.  1,349;   c-  5<2O°- 
March  9  — Monitor  defeats  Merrimack. 

March  1 1 . — McClellan  resigns  general  command  ;   assumes  command 
Army  of  the  Potomac. 

March  14  —  Newbern,  N.  C.  ;  f.  471  I  c.  583. 
March  23. — Winchester,  Va.  ;   f.  567  ;  c.  691. 
April  6,  7.— Shiloh,  Tenn.  ;   f.  13, 573  5   c-  10,699. 

May  5. Williamsburg,  Va.  ;   f.  2,228;   c.  1,000. 

May  23. — Front  Royal,  Va.  ;   f.  904;   c.   - 

May  25. — Winchester,  Va.  ;   f.  904;   c.  . 

May  30.— Corinth,  Miss.,  evacuated.     Halleck's  army  takes  posses 


sion. 


May  31,  June   i.— Seven  Pines  and   Fair  Oaks,  Va.  ;   f.  5,739;  c- 

7,997- 

june  6. — Memphis,  Tenn.,  surrenders. 

June  8.— Cross  Keys,  Va.  ;   f.  625  ;   c.  287. 

June  9. — Port  Republic,  Va.  ;   f.  1,002  ;   c.  657. 

June  1 6. — Secessionville,  James  Island,  S.  C.  :  f.  685  ;   c.  204. 

June  25.— Oak  Grove,  Va  ;  f.  516;   c.  541. 

June  26-July  I . — Seven  days1  retreat ;  includes  battles  of  Mechanics- 
ville,  Games'  Mills,  Chickahominy,  Peach  Orchard,  Savage  Station, 
Charles  City  Cross  Roads,  and  Malvern  Hill:  f.  15,249  ;  c.  I7>583- 

July  2. — President  calls  for  300,000  volunteers  for  three  years. 

July  13. — Murfreesboro',  Tenn.  ;   f.  895  ;   c.  150. 

July  20-Sept.  20. — Guerilla  campaign  in  Mo.  :  f.  580;   c.  2,866. 

Aug.  4. — President  calls  for  300,000  volunteers  for  nine  months. 

Aug.  8. — Cedar  Mountain,  Va.  ;  f.  1,400;   c-  I>3°7- 

Aug.  28,  29. Groveton  and  Gainesville,  Va.  ;   f.  7,000;   c.  7,000. 

Aug.  30. — Second  Bull  Run,  Va.  ;   f.  7,800;   c.  3,700. 

Aug.  30. — Richmond,  Ky.  ;   f.  4,9°°!  c>  75°- 

Sept.  i.— Chantilly,  Va.  ;   f.  1.300;   c.  800. 

Sept.  12-15. — Harper's  Ferry,  Va.  ;   f.  11,783;   c-  5°°- 

Sept.  14.— South  Mountain,  Md.  ;  f.  2,325;   c.  4>343- 

Sept.  14-16. — Mumfordsville,  Ky.  :  f.  3,616;   c.  714. 

Sept.  17. — Antietam,  Md.  ;   f.  12,469;   c.  25,899. 

Sept.  19,  20. — luka,  Miss.;   f.  782;   c.  1,516. 

Sept.  22. — President  issues  proclamation  to  free  slaves  Jan.  i,  1863. 

Oct.  3,  4.— Corinth,  Miss.;   f.  2,359;   c-  9<423- 

Oct.  5. — Big  Hatchie  River,  Miss.  ;   f.  500:   c.  400. 


308  APPENDIX. 

Oct.  8. — Perryville,  Ky.  ;   f.  4,348;   c.  4,500. 

Oct.  10-13. — Raid  of  Confederate  General  Stuart  into  Pennsylvania. 

Nov.  5. — Burnside  supersedes  McClellan. 

Dec.  7.— -Prairie  Grove,  Ark.  ;  f.  1,148;   c.  1,500. 

Dec.  7. — Hartsville,  Tenn.  ;   f.  1,855;   c-  !49- 

Dec.  1 2-1 8. — Foster's  expedition,  Goldsboro,  N.  C.  ;  f.  577  ;  c.  739. 

Dec.  13. — Fredericksburg,  Va.  ;   f.  12,353;  c-4>576. 

Dec.  20. — Holly  Springs,  Miss.;   f.  1,000. 

Dec.  27. — Elizabethtown,  Ky. ;   f.  500. 

Dec.  28,  29. — Chickasaw  Bayou,  Miss.  ;  f.  1,929;   c.  207. 

Dec.  3i-Jan.  2,  '63. — Stone's  River,  Tenn.;   f.  11,578;   c.  14,560. 

1863. 

Jan.  i. — Galveston,  Tex.  ;   f.  600;   c.  50. 

Jan.  2. — President  Lincoln  proclaims  freedom  to  slaves  in  rebel 
states. 

Jan.  ii. — Fort  Hindman,  Ark.;   f.  977;   c.  5,500. 

Jan.  26. — Hooker  supersedes  Burnside. 

Feb.  25. — Conscript  bill  passed  by  congress. 

March  3. — Congress  suspends  habeas  corpus  act. 

March  4,  5. — Thompson's  Station,  Tenn.  ;   f.   1,706;   c.  600. 

April  27-May  3. — Streighfs  raid  from  Tuscumbia,  Ala.,  to  Rome, 
Ga.  ;  f.  1,547- 

May  i. — Port  Gibson,  Miss.  ;   f.  853  ;   c.  1,650. 

May  1-4. — Chancellorsville,  Va.  ;   f.  16,030;   c.  12,281. 

May  10. — Death  of  Stonewall  Jackson. 

May  16. — Champion  Mills,  Miss.;   f.  2,457;   c.  4,300. 

May  i8-July  4 — Siege  of  Vicksburg,  Miss.  ;   f.  4,536;   c.  31,277. 

May  27-July  9. — Siege  of  Port  Hudson,  La.  ;   f.  3,000  ;  c.  7,208. 

June  6-8. — Milliken's  Bend,  La.  ;   f.  492  ;  c.  725. 

June  9. — Beverly  Ford  and  Brandy  Station,  Va.  ;   f.  500  ;   c.  700. 

June  13-15. — Winchester,  Va.  ;   f.  3,000;  c.  850. 

June  14. — Confederate  invasion  of  Maryland  and  Pennsylvania  com 
menced. 

June  23-30. — Rosecrans1  campaign  from  Murfreesboro1  to  Tulla- 
homa,  Tenn.;  f.  560;  c.  1,634. 

June  27. — Meade  supersedes  Hooker. 

July '1-3. —Gettysburg,  Pa.;   f.  23,186;   c.  31,621. 

July  9-16. — Jackson,  Miss.;   f.  i  ,000  ;   c.  1,339. 

July  13-16. — Riots  in  New  York  city  against  enforcement  of  con 
scription  act. 


APPENDIX.  309 

July  18. — Fort  Wagner,  S.  C.,  second  assault ;   f.  1,500;   c.  174. 

Sept.  10. — Knoxville,  Tenn.,  occupied  by  Burnside. 

Sept.  19,  20. — Chickamauga,  Ga.  ;   f.  15,851  ;   c.  17,804. 

Oct.  17  and  Feb.  i,  '64. — President  calls  for  500,000  men  for  three 
years,  to  include  men  raised  by  draft  in  1863. 

Oct.  19. — Rosecrans1  command  of  army  in  Tennessee,  superseded  by 
Grant,  Thomas,  and  Sherman. 

Nov.  3. — Grand  Coteau,  La.  ;   f.  726;   c.  445. 

Nov.  6. — Rogersville,  Tenn.  ;   f.  667  ;  c.  30. 

Nov.  23-25. — Chattanooga,  Tenn.,  includes  Orchard  Knob,  Look 
out  Mountain,  and  Missionary  Ridge;  f.  5,616;  c.  8,684. 

Nov.  26-28. — Mine  Run,  Va.  ;   f.  500;   c.  500. 

Dec.  14. — Bean's  Station,  Tenn.  ;  f.  700;   c.  900. 

1864. 

Feb.  20. —  Olustee,-Fla.  ;   f.  1,828;   c.  500. 

March  12. — General  Grant  made  lieutenant-general,  and  in  com 
mand  of  all  armies,  succeeding  Halleck. 

March  14. — President  calls  for  200,000  men  for  three  years. 

April  8. — Sabine  Cross  Roads,  La.  ;  f.  2,900;   c.  1,500. 

April  9. — Pleasant  Hills,  La.:   f.  1,100;   c.  2,000. 

April  12. — Fort  Pillow,  Tenn;   f.  574;  c.  80. 

April  17-20. — Plymouth,  N.  C.  ;  f.  1,600;  c.  500. 

April  30. — Jenkin's  Ferry,  Ark.  ;   f.  1,155  ;   c-  1,100. 

May  5-7. — Wilderness,  Va.  ;   f.  18,387:   c.  11,400. 

May  5-9. — Rocky  Face  Ridge,  Ga.  ;   f.  837  ;   c.  600. 

May  8-iS. — Spottsylvania  Court-House,  Va.  ;   f.  12,564;   c.  9,000. 

May  9,  10. — Cloyd's  Mt.,  and  New  River  Bridge,  Va.  :  f.  745  ;  c. 
900;  Swift  Creek,  Va.  ;  f.  490;  c.  500. 

May  12-16. — Fort  Darling,  Drury's  Bluff,  Va.  ;  f.  3,012;   c.  2,500. 

May  13-16. — Resaca,  Ga.  ;   f.  2,747;   c.  2,800. 

May  15. — New  Market,  Va.  ;   f.  920;   c.  405. 

May  16-30. — -Bermuda  Hundred,  Va.  ;   f.  1,200;   c.  3,000. 

May  23-27. — North  Anna  River,  Va.  ;  f.  1,973  :  c.  2,000. 

May  25-June  4. — Dallas,  Ga.  ;  f.  2,400  ;   c.  3,000. 

June  1-12. — Cold  Harbor,  Va.  ;   f.  14,931  ;   c.  1,700. 

June  5. — Piedmont,  Va.  ;   f.  780;   c.  2,970. 

June  9-30. — Kenesaw  Mountain,  Ga.  ;   f.  8,670;  c.  4,600. 

June  10. — Brice's  Cross  Roads,  Miss.  ;   f.  2,240;   c.  606. 

June  10. — Kellar's  Bridge,  Ky.  ;   f.  767. 

June  11,12  — Trevellian  Station,  Va.  ;   f.  735  ;   c.  370. 


310  APPENDIX. 

June  15-19. —  Petersburg,  Va.  ;  includes  Baylor's  Farm,  Walthal,  and 
Weir  Bottom  Church  ;  f.  10,586. 

June  17,  18. — Lynchburg,  Va.  ;   f.  700  ;  c.  200. 

June  20  30. — Trenches  in  front  of  Petersburg,  Va.  :  f.  1,418. 

June  22-30. — Wilson's  raid  on  Weldon  Railroad,  Va.  ;  f.  1,041; 
c.  300. 

June  22,  23. — Weldon  Railroad,  Va.  :   f.  5,315  :  c.  500. 

June  27. — Kenesaw  Mountain,  Ga.  ;  f.  3,000  ;  c.  600. 

July  1-13. — Part  of  Lee's  army  invades  Maryland,  threatens  Wash 
ington,  and  retreats. 

July  1-31. — Front  of  Petersburg,  Va.  ;   f.  3,695. 

July  6-10. — Chattahoochee  River,  Ga.  ;   f.  730  :  c.  600. 

July  9. — Monocacy,  Md.  ;  f.  1,959;  c.  400. 

July  13-15. — Tupelo,  Miss.  ;   f.  648  ;   c.  700. 

July  18. — President  calls  for  500,000  men  for  three  years. 

July  20. — Peach  Tree  Creek,  Ga.  ;  f.  1,710  ;  c.  4,796. 

July  22. — Atlanta,  Ga.  ;   f.  3,641  ;  c.  8,499. 

July  24.  —  Winchester,  Va.  ;   f.  1,200  ;   c.  600. 

July  26-31. — Stoneman's  raid  to  Macon,  Ga.  ;   f.  1,000. 

July  26-31.— McCook's  raid  to  Lovejoy  Station,  Ga.  ;  f.  600. 

July  28. — Atlanta,  Ga.,  Ezra  Chapel ;  f.  700  ;  c.  4,642. 

July  30. — Mine  explosion,  Petersburg,  Va.  ;  f.  4,008  ;  c.  1,200. 

Aug.  1-31. — Trenches  before  Petersburg,  Va.  ;  f.  571. 

Aug.  5-8 Confederate  flotilla,  near  Mobile,  Ala.,  destroyed  by 

Farragut,  and  Fort  Gaines  taken. 

Aug.  14-18. — Strawberry  Plains,  Deep  Bottom  Run,  Va.  ;  f.  3,555  ; 
c.  1,100. 

Aug.  1 8,  19,  21 . — Six-Mile  House,  Weldon  Railroad,  Va.  :  f.  4,543  ; 
c.  4,000. 

Aug.  21. — Summit  Point,  Va.  ;  f.  600  ;  c.  400. 

Aug.  25. — Ream's  Station,  Va.  ;  f.  2,442;   c.  1,500. 

Aug.  3i-Sept.  i. — Jonesboro,  Ga.  ;  f.  1,149;  c-  2,°°°- 

May  5  to  Sept  8. — Campaign  in  Georgia,  from  Chattanooga,  Tenn., 
to  Atlanta  ;  f.  37,199. 

Sept.  i. — Sherman  occupies  Atlanta. 

Sept.  i — Oct.  30. — Trenches  before  Petersburg,  Va.  ;  f.  1,804;  c. 
i  ,000. 

Sept.  19. — Opequan,  Winchester,  Va.  ;   f.  4,990;   c.  5,500. 

Sept.  23. — Athens,  Ala.;   f.  950;   c.  30. 

Sept.  24-Oct.  28. — Price's  invasion  of  Missouri ;   f.  506. 

Sept.  28-30. — New  Market  Heights,  Va.  ;   f.  2,429;   c.  2,000. 


APPENDIX.  311 

Sept.  3o-Oct.  i. — Poplar  Springs  Church,  Va.  ;   f.  2,685  5     c-  9°°- 

Oct.  5. — Allatoona,  Ga.  ;   f.  706;   c.  1,142. 

Oct.  19. — Cedar  Creek,  Va.  ;   f.  5,995  ;   c.  4,200. 

Oct.  19. — St.  Albans,  Vt.,   raid. 

Oct.  27. — Hatcher's  Run,  Va.  ;  f.  1,902  ;  c.  1,000. 

Oct.  27-28. — Fair  Oaks,  near  Richmond,  Va.  ;  f.  1,303  ;  c.  451. 

Nov.  8. — Abraham  Lincoln  re-elected  President  of  the  United  States. 

Nov.  13. — Sherman  begins  his  march  from  Atlanta  to  Savannah,  Ga. 

Nov.  28. — Fort  Kelly    W.  Va.  ;   f.  700  ;  c.  5. 

Nov.  30. — Franklin,  Tenn.  ;   f.  2,326;  c.   6,252. 

Nov.  30.— Honey  Hill,  S.  C.  ;  f.  711. 

Dec.  6-9. — Deveaux's  Neck.  S.  C.  ;   f.  629  ;  c.  400. 

Dec.  15-16. —  Nashville,  Tenn.;  f.  2,140;  c.  15,000. 

Dec.  19. — President  calls  for  300,000  more  men. 

Dec.  21. — Sherman  enters  Savannah,  Ga. 

1865. 

Jan.  ii.— Beverly,  W.  Va.  ;  f.  608. 

Jan.  13-1 5. _Fort  Fisher,  N.  C.  ;   f.  955  ;  c.  2,483. 

Feb.  5-7. — Dabney?s  Mills,  Va.  ;  f.  1,480;  c.    i,2co. 

March  8-10. — Wilcox's  Bridge,  N.  C.  ;  f.  1,101  ;  c.  1,500. 

March  16. — Averysboro,  N.  C.  ;  f.  554;  c.  865. 

March  19-21. — Bentonville,  N.  C.  ;  f.  1,646;  c.  2,825. 

March  25. — Fort  Steadman,  Petersburg,  Va.  ;  f.  911  ;  c.  2,681. 

March  25. — Petersburg,  Va.  ;   f.  1,176;   c.  834. 

March  26-April  8. — Spanish  Fort,  Ala.  ;  f.  795  ;  c.  552. 

March  22-April  24. — Wilson's  Raid  from  Chickasaw,  Ala.,  to 
Macon,  Ga.  ;  f.  725  ;  c.  8,020. 

March  31. — Boydton  and  White  Oak  Roads,  Va.  ;  f.  1,867;  c- 
1,235. 

April  i. — Five  Forks,  Va.  ;  f.  884;  c.  8,500. 

April  2. — Fall  of  Petersburg,  Va.  ;  f.  3,361  ;  c.  3.000. 

April  2,  3. — Richmond  evacuated  and  occupied  by  the  Federal  army. 

April  6. — Sailors1  Creek,  Va.  (Sheridan  overtakes  and  defeats  Lee)  : 
f.  1,180  ;  c.  7,000. 

April  6.— High  Bridge,  Va.  ;  f.  1,041. 

April  7. — Farmville,  Va.  ;  £.655. 

April  9. — Lee  surrenders  to  Grant  at  Appomatox  Court  House;  c. 
26,000. 

April  9. — Fort  Blakeley,  Ala.  ;  f.  629  ;  c.   2,900. 

April  12. — Mobile,  Ala.     Evacuated  by  the  Confederates. 


312  APPENDIX. 

April  14. — United  States  flag  replaced  on  Fort  Sumter,  Charleston, 
S.  C. 

April  14. — President  Lincoln  assassinated  in  Ford's  Theater,  Wash 
ington,  D.  C.,  by  Wilkes  Booth,  who  escapes. 

April  15. —  President  Lincoln  dies  at  7:30  a.  m.,  Andrew  Johnson 
sworn  in  as  president. 

April  26. — Confederate  General  Johnston  surrenders  with  his  army  to 
Sherman  ;  c.  29,924  ;  Wilkes  Booth  captured  and  shot. 

May  4. — Confederate  Gen.  Dick  Taylor  surrenders,  near  Mobile, 
Ala.  ;  c.  10,000. 

May  10. — Jefferson  Davis  captured  at  Irwinsville,  Ga. 

May  10. — Confederate  Gen.  Sam  Jones  surrenders;   c.  8,000. 

May  11. — Confederate  Gen.  Jeff  Thompson  surrenders;   c.  7,454. 

May  26. — Confederate  Gen.  Kirby  Smith  surrenders  ;   c.  20,000. 

The  above  list  includes  149  engagements,  in  each  of  which  the  loss 
to  the  Union  armies  was  over  500. 

The  total  number  of  engagements  chronicled  by  Captain  Phisterer,  in 
his  book  referred  to,  is  2,261. 


SONGS  AND  POETRY  OF  THE  WAR. 


WHEN    JOHNNY    COMES     MARCHING    HOME. 

P.    S.     GILMORE. 

When  Johnny  comes  marching  home  again,  hurrah,  hurrah 
We'll  give  him  a  hearty  welcome  then,  hurrah,  hurrah  ! 

The  men  will  cheer,  the  boys  will  shout, 

The  ladies  they  will  all  turn  out, 
\nd  we  '11  all  feel  gay 

When  Johnny  comes  marching  home. 

The  old  church-bell  will  peal  with  joy,  hurrah,  hurrah  ! 

To  welcome  home  our  darling  boy,  hurrah,  hurrah  ! 
The  village  lads  and  lasses  say 
With  roses  they  will  strew  the  way, 

And  we  Ml  all  feel  gay 

When  Johnny  comes  marching  home. 

Get  ready  for  the  jubilee,  hurrah,  hurrah  ! 

We  ',\  give  the  hero  three  times  three,  hurrah,  hurrah  ! 

The  laurel  wreath  is  ready  now 

To  place  upon  his  loyal  brow, 
And  we  '11  all  feel  gay 

When  Johnny  comes  marching  home. 

Let  love  and  friendship,  on  that  day,  hurrah,  hurrah  ! 
Their  choicest  treasures  then  display,  hurrah,  hurrah  ! 

And  let  each  one  perform  some  part 

To  fill  with  joy  the  warrior's  heart, 
And  we'll  all  feel  gay 

When  Johnny  comes  marching  home. 


APPENDIX. 

JOHN    BROWN'S    BODY. 

John  Brown's  body  lies  a-mouldering  in  the  grave, 
John  Brown's  body  lies  a-mouldering  in  the  grave, 
John  Brown's  body  lies  a-mouldering  in  the  grave, 
But  his  soul  is  marching  on ! 

Glory,  glory,  hallelujah  ! 
Glory,  glory,  hallelujah  ! 
Glory,  glory,  hallelujah  ! 

His  soul  is  marching  on. 

He's  gone  to  be  a  soldier  in  the  army  of  the  Lord, 
He's  gone  to  be  a  soldier  in  the  army  of  the  Lord, 
He's  gone  to  be  a  soldier  in  the  army  of  the  Lord, 
But  his  soul  is  marching  on  ! 
Glory,  etc. 

John  Brown's  knapsack  is  strapped  upon  his  back, 
John  Brown's  knapsack  is  strapped  upon  his  back, 
John  Brown's  knapsack  is  strapped  upon  his  back, 
And  his  soul  is  marching  on  ! 
Glory,  etc. 

His  pet  lambs  will  meet  him  on  the  way, 
His  pet  lambs  will  meet  him  on  the  way, 
His  pet  lambs  will  meet  him  on  the  way, 
As  they  go  marching  on ! 
Glory,  etc. 

They'll  hang  Jeff  Davis  on  a  sour  apple  tree, 
They'll  hang  Jeff  Davis  on  a  sour  apple  tree, 
They'll  hang  Jeff  Davis  on  a  sour  apple  tree, 
As  they  go  marching  on  ! 
Glory,  etc. 

Now  three  rousing  cheers  for  the  Union, 
Now  three  rousing  cheers  for  the  Union, 
Now  three  rousing  cheers  for  the  Union, 
As  we  go  marching  on  ! 
Glory,  etc. 


APPENDIX. 
MARCHING    ALONG. 

WM.    B.    BRADBURY. 

The  army  is  gathering  from  near  and  from  far  ; 
The  trumpet  is  sounding  the  call  for  the  war  ; 
For  Grant  is  our  leader — he  's  gallant  and  strong  ; 
We'll  gird  on  our  armor  and  be  marching  along! 

CHORUS  :   Marching  along,  we  are  marching  along, 

Gird  on  the  armor  and  be  marching  along  ; 

For  Grant  is  our  leader — he  's  gallant  and  strong  ; 

For  God  and  our  Country,  we  are  marching  along  ! 

The  foe  is  before  us  in  battle  array, 

But  let  us  not  waver  nor  turn  from  the  way  ! 

The  Lord  is  our  strength,  and  the  Union's  our  song  ; 

With  courage  and  faith  we  are  marching  along! 

CHORUS : 

Our  wives  and  our  children  we  leave  in  your  care  ; 
We  feel  you  will  help  them  with  sorrow  to  bear  ; 
'T  is  hard  thus  to  part,  but  we  hope  't  won't  be  long  ; 
We  '11  keep  up  our  hearts  as  we  're  marching  along  ! 

CHORUS : 

We  sigh  for  our  country — we  mourn  for  our  dead  ! 
For  them,  now,  our  last  drop  of  blood  we  will  shed  ! 
Our  cause  is  the  right  one — our  foe  's  in  the  wrong ; 
Then  gladly  we'll  sing  as  we're  marching  along  ! 

CHORUS  : 

The  flag  of  our  country  is  floating  on  high  ; 
We  '11  stand  by  that  flag  till  we  conquer  or  die  ! 
For  Grant  is  our  leader — he  's  gallant  and  strong  ; 
We  '11  gird  on  our  armor  and  be  marching  along  ! 

CHORUS : 


3i6 


APPENDIX. 


BATTLE    HYMN    OF    THE    REPUBLIC. 

JULIA    WARD    HOWE. 

Mine  eyes  have  seen  the  glory  of  the  coming  of  the  Lord  : 
He  is  trampling  out  the  vintage  where  the  grapes  of  wrath  are  stored ; 
He  hath  loosed  the  fateful  lightning  of  His  terrible  Swift  Sword  ; 
His  truth  is  marching  on. 

I  have  seen  Him  in  the  watch-fires  of  a  hundred  circling  camps  ; 
They  have  builded  Him  an  altar  in  the  evening  dews  and  damps  ; 
I  can  read  His  righteous  sentence  by  the  dim  and  flaring  lamps  ; 
His  day  is  marching  on. 

I  have  read  a  fiery  gospel  writ  in  burnish'd  rows  of  steel  ; 
"As  ye  deal  with  my  contemners,  so  with  you  my  grace  shall  deal  ; 
Let  the  Hero  born  of  woman  crush  the  serpent  with  his  heel, 
Since  God  is  marching  on." 

He  has  sounded  forth  the  trumpet  that  shall  never  call  retreat ; 
He  is  sifting  out  the  hearts  of  men  before  His  judgment  seat : 
Oh,  be  swift,  my  soul,  to  answer  Him  !  be  jubilant  my  feet ! 
Our  God  is  marching  on. 

In  the  beauty  of  the  lilies  Christ  was  born  across  the  Sea, 
With  a  glory  in  His  bosom  that  transfigures  you  and  me  ; 
As  He  died  to  make  men  holy,  let  us  die  to  make  men  free, 
While  God  is  marching  on. 


THE  BATTLE  CRY  OF  FREEDOM. 

GEO.    F.    ROOT. 

Yes,  we'll  rally  round  the  flag,  boys, 

We'll  rally  once  again, 
Shouting  the  battle-cry  of  Freedom  ; 
We  will  rally  from  the  hillside, 

We  will  rally  from  the  plain, 
Shouting  the  battle-cry  of  Freedom. 

CHORUS:   The  Union  forever!     Hurrah,  boys,  hurrah 
Down  with  the  traitors,  up  with  the  stars  : 
While  we  rally  'round  the  flag,  boys, 

Rally  once  again, 
Shouting  the  battle-cry  of  Freedom. 


APPEATD1X.  317 


We  are  springing  to  the  call 
Of  our  brothers  gone  before, 

Shouting  the  battle-cry  of  Freedom  ; 

And  we  Ul  fill  the  vacant  ranks 
With  a  million  freemen  more, 

Shouting  the  battle-cry  of  Freedom. 

CHORUS : 

We  will  welcome  to  our  number 
The  loyal,  true,  and  brave, 
Shouting  the  battle-cry  of  Freedom  ; 
And  although  he  may  be  poor, 

He  shall  never  be  a  slave, 
Shouting  the  battle-cry  of  Freedom. 

CHORUS  : 

We  are  springing  to  the  call, 

From  the  East  and  from  the  West, 

Shouting  the  battle-cry  of  Freedom  ; 

And  we'll  hurl  the  rebel  crew 
From  the  land  we  love  the  best, 

Shouting  the  battle-cry  of  Freedom. 

CHORUS  : 

We  are  marching  to  the  field,  boys, 

Going  to  the  fight, 
Shouting  the  battle-cry  of  Freedom  ; 
And  v/e  Ml  bear  the  glorious  stars 

Of  the  Union  and  the  Right, 
Shouting  the  battle-cry  of  Freedom. 

CHORUS : 

We'll  meet  the  rebel  host,  boys, 
With  fearless  hearts  and  true, 

Shouting  the  battle-cry  of  Freedom  ; 

And  we'll  show  what  Uncle  Sam 
Has  for  loyal  men  to  do, 

Shouting  the  battle-cry  of  Freedom. 

CHORUS : 


318  APPENDIX. 

If  \ve  fall  amid  the  fray,  boys, 
We  will  face  them  to  the  last, 

Shouting  the  battle-cry  of  Freedom  : 

And  our  comrades  brave  shall  hear  us, 
As  we  are  rushing  past, 

Shouting  the  battle-cry  of  Freedom. 

CHORUS : 

Yes,  for  Liberty  and  Union 
We  are  springing  to  the  fight, 

Shouting  the  battle-cry  of  Freedom  ; 

And  the  Victory  shall  be  ours, 
Forever  rising  in  our  might, 

Shouting  the  battle-cry  of  Freedom. 
CHORUS : 


ALL  QUIET  ALONG  THE  POTOMAC. 

MRS.    E.    L.    BEERS. 

"  All  quiet  along  the  Potomac/1  they  say, 

"  Except  now  and  then  a  stray  picket 
Is  shot,  as  he  walks  on  his  beat,  to  and  fro, 

By  a  rifleman  hid  in  the  thicket  : 
'T  is  nothing,  a  private  or  two  now  and  then 

Will  not  count  in  the  news  of  the  battle  ; 
Not  an  officer  lost — only  one  of  the  men, 

Moaning  out,  all  alone,  his  death-rattle.'1 

All  quiet  along  the  Potomac  to-night, 

Where  the  soldiers  lie  peacefully  dreaming  ; 
Their  tents  in  the  rays  of  the  clear  autumn  moon, 

On  the  light  of  the  watch-fires  are  gleaming. 
A  tremulous  sigh,  as  the  gentle  night  wind 

Through  the  forest  leaves  softly  is  creeping  : 
While  stars,  up  above,  with  their  glittering  eyes, 

Keep  guard — for  the  army  is  sleeping. 

There ''s  only  the  sound  of  the  lone  sentry^  tread, 
As  he  tramps  from  the  rock  to  the  fountain, 

And  he  thinks  of  the  two  in  the  low  trundle-bed 
Far  away  in  the  cot  on  the  mountain. 


APPENDIX. 

His  musket  falls  slack — his  face,  dark  and  grim, 

Grows  gentle  with  memories  tender, 
As  he  mutters  a  prayer  for  the  children  asleep, 

For  their  mother — may  Heaven  defend  her! 

The  moon  seems  to  shine  just  as  brightly  as  then, 
That  night,  when  the  love  yet  unspoken 

Leaped  up  to  his  lips — when  low  murmured  vows 
Were  pledged  to  be  ever  unbroken. 

Then  drawing  his  sleeve  roughly  over  his  eyes, 
He  dashes  off  tears  that  are  welling, 

And  gathers  his  gun  closer  up  to  its  place, 

As  if  to  keep  down  the  heart-swelling. 

He  passes  the  fountain,  the  blasted  pine  tree — 

The  footstep  is  lagging  and  weary  ; 
Yet  onward  he  goes,  through  the  broad  belt  of  light, 

Toward  the  shades  of  the  forest  so  dreary. 
Hark!  was  it  the  night  wind  that  rustled  the  leaves? 

Was  it  moonlight  so  suddenly  flashing? 
It  looked  like  a  rifle   .    .    .    "Ha!  Mary,  good-by  ! '" 

And  the  life-blood  is  ebbing  and  plashing. 

All  quiet  along  the  Potomac  to-night ; 

No  sound  save  the  rush  of  the  river  ; 
While  soft  falls  the  dew  on  the  face  of  the  dead — 

The  picket's  off  duty  forever! 


319 


SOMEBODY'S  DARLING. 

MARIE    LACOSTE. 

Into  a  ward  of  the  white-washed  walls, 

Where  the  dead  and  the  dying  lay, 
Wounded  by  bayonets,  shells,  and  balls, 

Somebody's  darling  was  borne  one  day, — 
Somebody's  darling,  so  young  and  so  brave. 

Wearing  still  on  his  pale,  sweet  face 
(Soon  to  be  hid  by  the  dust  of  the  grave) 

The  lingering  light  of  his  boyhood's  grace. 


32O  APPENDIX. 

Matted  and  damp  are  the  curls  of  gold, 

Kissing  the  snow  of  that  fair  young  brow  ; 
Pale  are  the  lips  of  delicate  mould — 

Somebody's  darling  is  dying  now  ! 
Back  from  the  beautiful,  blue-veined  face 

Brush  every  wandering  silken  thread  ! 
Cross  his  hands  as  a  sign  of  grace — 

Somebody's  darling  is  stiff  and  dead  ! 

Kiss  him  once  for  somebody's  sake  ; 

Murmur  a  prayer,  soft  and  low  ; 
One  bright  curl  from  the  cluster  take — 

They  were  somebody's  pride,  you  know. 
Somebody's  hand  hath  rested  there — 

Was  it  a  mother's,  soft  and  white? 
And  have  the  lips  of  a  sister  fair 

Been  baptised  in  those  waves  of  light? 

God  knows  best.     He  was  somebody's  love  : 

Somebody's  heart  enshrined  him  there  ; 
Somebody  wafted  his  name  above, 

Night  and  morn,  on  the  wings  of  prayer. 
Somebody  wept  when  he  marched  away, 

Looking  so  handsome,  brave,  and  grand  ; 
Somebody's  kiss  on  his  forehead  lay  ; 

Somebody  clung  to  his  parting  hand. 

Somebody  's  watching  and  waiting  for  him, 

Yearning  to  hold  him  again  to  her  heart : 
There  he  lies,  with  the  blue  eyes  dim, 

And  smiling,  child-like  lips  apart ! 
Tenderly  bury  the  fair  young  dead, 

Pausing  to  drop  on  his  grave  a  tear  ; 
Carve  on  the  wooden  slab  at  his  head: 

"  Somebody's  darling  lies  buried  here  !  " 


MARCHING  THROUGH  GEORGIA. 

Bring  the  good  old  bugle,  boys  !    We  '11  sing  another  song, 
Sing  it  with  the  spirit  that  will  start  the  world  along — 
Sing  it  as  we  used  to  sing  it,  fifty  thousand  strong, 
While  we  were  marching  through  Georgia. 


APPENDIX.  321 

CHORUS  :    "  Hurrah  !  hurrah  !  we  bring  the  jubilee  ! 

Hurrah  !    hurrah  !    the  flag  that  makes  you  free  !  " 
So  we  sing  the  chorus  from  Atlanta  to  the  sea, 
While  we  were  marching  through  Georgia. 

How  the  darkies  shouted  when  they  heard  the  joyful  sound ! 
How  the  turkeys  gobbled,  which  our  commissary  found  ! 
How  the  sweet  potatoes  even  started  from  the  ground, 
While  we  were  marching  through  Georgia. 

CHORUS : 

Yes,  and  there  were  Union  men  who  wept  with  joyful  tears, 
When  they  saw  the  honored  flag  they  had  not  seen  for  years  ; 
Hardly  could  they  be  restrained  from  breaking  off  in  cheers, 
While  we  were  marching  through  Georgia. 

CHORUS : 

"Sherman's  dashing  Yankee  boys  will  never  reach  the  coast!1' 
So  the  saucy  rebels  said,  and  'twas  a  handsome  boast, 
Had  they  not  forgot,  alas,  to  reckon  with  the  host, 
While  we  were  marching  through  Georgia. 

CHORUS : 

So  we  made  a  thoroughfare  for  freedom  and  her  train, 
Sixty  miles  in  latitude — three  hundred  to  the  main ; 
Treason  fled  before  us,  for  resistance  was  in  vain, 

While  we  were  marching  through  Georgia. 

CHORUS: 

But  the  march  is  not  yet  finished,  nor  will  we  yet  disband, 
While  still  a  trace  of  treason  remains  to  curse  the  land, 
Or  any  foe  against  the  flag  uplifts  a  threatening  hand, 
For  we've  been  marching  through  Georgia. 

CHORUS : 

When  Right  is  in  the  White  House,  and  Wisdom  in  her  seat, 
The  reconstructed  senators  and  congressmen  to  greet, 
Why  then  we  may  stop  marching,  and  rest  our  weary  feet, 
For  we've  been  marching  through  Georgia. 

CHORUS  : 


322  APPENDIX. 

KILLED  AT  THE  FORD. 

H.    W.    LONGFELLOW. 

He  is  dead,  the  beautiful  youth, 

The  heart  of  honor,  the  tongue  of  truth, 

He,  the  light  and  life  of  us  all, 

Whose  voice  was  blithe  as  a  bugle-call, 

Whom  all  eyes  followed  with  one  consent, 

The  cheer  of  whose  laugh,  and  whose  pleasant  word 

Hushed  all  murmurs  of  discontent. 

Only  last  night,  as  we  rode  along, 

Down  the  dark  of  the  mountain  gap, 

To  visit  the  picket-guard  at  the  ford, 

Little  dreaming  of  any  mishap, 

He  was  humming  the  words  of  some  old  song  : 

"  Two  red  roses  he  had  on  his  cap, 

And  another  he  bore  at  the  point  of  his  sword." 

Sudden  and  swift,  a  whistling  ball 

Came  out  of  the  wood,  and  the  voice  was  still  : 

Something  I  heard  in  the  darkness  fall, 

And  for  a  moment  my  blood  grew  chill  ; 

I  spake  in  a  whisper,  as  he  who  speaks 

In  a  room  where  some  one  is  lying  dead  : 

But  he  made  no  answer  to  what  I  said. 

We  lifted  him  up  to  his  saddle  again, 

And  through  the  mire  and  the  mist  and  the  rain, 

Carried  him  back  to  the  silent  camp, 

And  laid  him  as  if  asleep  on  his  bed  ; 

And  I  saw  by  the  light  of  the  surgeon's  lamp 

Two  white  roses  upon  his  cheeks, 

And  one,  just  over  his  heart,  blood-red  ! 

And  I  saw  in  a  vision  how  far  and  fleet 

That  fatal  bullet  went  speeding  forth, 

Till  it  reached  a  town  in  the  distant  North, 

Till  it  reached  a  house  in  a  sunny  street, 

Till  it  reached  a  heart  that  ceased  to  beat 

Without  a  murmur,  without  a  cry  ; 

And  a  bell  was  tolled  in  that  far-off  town, 

For  one  who  had  passed  from  cross  to  crown, 

And  the  neighbors  wondered  that  she  should  die. 


APPENDIX.  323 

TENTING    ON    THE    OLD    CAMP    GROUND. 

WALTER    KITTREDGE. 

We're  tenting  to-night  on  the  old  camp  ground, 

Give  us  a  song  to  cheer 
Our  weary  hearts,  a  song  of  home, 

And  friends  we  love  so  dear. 

CHORUS  :   Many  are  the  hearts  that  are  weary  to-night, 

Wishing  for  the  war  to  cease, 
Many  are  the  hearts  looking  for  the  right, 

To  see  the  dawn  of  peace. 
Tenting  to-night,  tenting  to-night, 
Tenting  on  the  old  camp  ground. 

We've  been  tenting  to-night  on  the  old  camp  ground, 

Thinking  of  days  gone  by, 
Of  the  loved  ones  at  home  that  gave  us  the  hand 

And  the  tear  that  said  "good-by." 

CHORUS  : 

We  are  tired  of  war  on  the  old  camp  ground, 

Many  are  the  dead  and  gone 
Of  the  brave  and  true  who've  left  their  homes, 

Others  been  wounded  long. 
CHORUS  : 

We've  been  fighting  to-day  on  the  old  camp  ground, 

Many  are  lying  near  : 
Some  are  dead,  and  some  are  dying, 

Many  are  in  tears. 

CHORUS  .   Many  are  the  hearts  that  are  weary  to-night, 

Wishing  for  the  war  to  cease, 
Many  are  the  hearts  looking  for  the  right, 

To  see  the  dawn  of  peace. 
Dying  to-night,  dying  to-night, 

Tenting  on  the  old  camp  ground, 

Dying  on  the  old  camp  ground. 


324 


APPENDIX. 


TRAMP!    TRAMP!    TRAMP! 


In  the  prison  cell  I  sit,  thinking,  mother  dear,  of  you, 

And  our  bright  and  happy  days  so  far  away, 
And  the  tears  they  fill  my  eyes,  spite  of  all  that  I  can  do, 

Though  1  try  to  cheer  my  comrades  and  be  gay. 

CHORUS  :   Tramp,  tramp,  tramp,  the  boys  are  marching, 

Cheer  up,  comrades,  they  will  come; 
And  beneath  the  starry  flag  we  shall  breathe  the  air  again 
Of  the  freeland  in  our  own  beloved  home. 

In  the  battle-front  we  stood  when  their  fiercest  charge  they  made, 
And  they  swept  us  off,  a  hundred  men  or  more ; 

But  before  we  reached  their  lines  they  were  beaten  back  dismayed, 
And  we  heard  the  cry  of  vict'ry  o'er  and  o'er. 

CHORUS:   Tramp,  tramp,  tramp,  etc. 

So  within  the  prison  cell  we  are  waiting  for  the  day 

That  shall  come  to  open  wide  the  iron  door, 
And  the  hollow  eye  grows  bright,  and  the  poor  heart  almost  gay, 

As  we  think  of  seeing  home  and  friends  once  more. 

CHORUS:   Tramp,  tramp,  tramp,  etc. 


KINGDOM  COMING. 

Say,  darkeys,  hab  you  seen  de  massa 

Wid  de  muffstas  on  his  face. 
Go  long  de  road  some  time  dis  mornin' 

Like  he  gwine  to  leab  de  place? 
He  seen  a  smoke,  way  up  de  ribber 

Whar  de  Linkum  gunboats  lay ; 
He  took  his  hat  an1  lef  berry  sudden, 

An1  I  spec  he  's  run  away ! 

CHORUS:   Ue  massa  run,  ha!  ha! 

De  darkeys  stay,  ho  !  ho  ! 
It  mus'  be  now  de  kingdom  coming, 
An?  de  year  of  Jubilo  ! 


APPENDIX.  325 

He  six  foot  one  way,  two  foot  tudder, 

An'  he  weigh  tree  hundred  pound, 
His  coat  so  big  he  could  n't  pay  de  tailor, 

An'  it  won't  go  half  way  round. 
He  drill  so  much  dey  call  him  cap'an, 

An'  he  get  so  clrefful  tann'd, 
I  spec  he  try  an'  fool  dem  yankees, 

For  to  tink  he's  contraband. 

CHORUS  : 

De  oberseer  he  make  us  trouble, 

An'  he  dribe  us  round  a  spell  ; 
We  lock  him  up  in  de  smoke-house  cellar, 

Wid  the  key  trown  in  de  well. 
De  whip  is  lost,  de  han'cuff  broken. 

But  de  massa  '11  hab  his  pay  ; 
He's  ol'  enough,  big  enough,  ought  to  know  better 

Dan  to  went  an'  run  away, 

CHORUS. 


YC  51182 


M123912 


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